Wednesday, March 27, 2013

'Did you find everything you were looking for today?'

For many, there's nothing better than a bit of retail therapy. I am not one of those people. I just don't have enough patience: all the hustle and bustle, not finding what you want, poor customer service ... I'd much rather pay that extra £3.95 for delivery, and buy it off the Internet. 


The problem is I'm never organised enough to order clothes in time. I'll know I need something to wear weeks in advance sometimes, and I'll just panic buy something I don't even like, for the sake of something to wear, and most of the time I never wear it again. 

If that isn't bad enough, then you get to the till and they ask 'did you find everything you were looking for today?'

I cannot stand this phrase. 

It's so insincere, rehearsed and robotic. 

They don't care if you've found everything you were looking for. The answer is either 'yes' hence why I'm stood at the till, or simply 'no', but none of us ever say 'no' do we? We tell them what they want to hear, to make their jobs easier because quite frankly, if you said 'no', I doubt they'd be able to string a sentence together because you've caught them off guard, they haven't been taught an alternative response. Customer service is yet another tragic break down in communication.

When I say 'yes thank you', what I really want to say is: 

'Well no actually. Why are 80% of your sizes 'small' when 60% of the entire population are obese? How many people do you know that are a size 6 with a 34 inch leg? Why were there no members of staff around to help me find what I was looking for? Why would I want your opinion anyway, when you clearly hate your job and dress like a tramp?'

Now I'm not saying all shop assistants are like this. In fact this week, I went to Milton Keynes and was welcomed by people on the door of at least four shops with, 'if you need any help, please let me know'. This was incredibly refreshing and this is the phrase shop assistants should be taught. Granted, it was accompanied with a cheesy grin, but at the end of the day we are prepared to give large chains our money, and yet most of the time, we leave unsatisfied. 

I am the worst culprit for this and it isn't just limited to clothes. I leave the hairdressers unhappy. If they don't have what I want in Tesco, I settle for something that's more expensive. There are several unworn items in my wardrobe which I meant to take back but didn't have the guts to. 

However, I am gradually learning from those around me. I went food shopping with my Nan last week and was at first embarrassed by her complaints. To me she was complaining about everything but then I realised that without her speaking her up, she would have spent around an additional £5 on her shopping bill. This doesn't sound much, but say this happens every single week, that's £260 a year; £260 that the average family, let alone pensioners, cannot afford. In hindsight, it wasn't even complaining but merely standing up for what should be available such as when they only had the expensive milk, or only the small packets of toilet rolls, or when their small print on discounts is misleading; she will not be fooled. 

Similarly, my Mother will not be screwed over by companies. A little while a go, a bottle of coke exploded all over our car through no fault of our own. One complaint and we got a compensatory voucher. Similarly, she found a stone in her Bombay Mix. It sounds ridiculous but considering how much we all shell out every week on commercial items, the least we can expect is good service and good quality. 

It is widely publicised that small independent stores are dying and is it any wonder when we are so easily brought into the large commercial chains. The tragic thing is that these are the kind of stores that aim to please. They value your custom. They relate to your needs. They will help you find everything you're looking for. 

Therefore next time I'm looking for an outfit, I will approach the girls casually hanging around the till, not actually doing very much, and ask them if they have anything other than a size 8. Next time they don't have what they are advertising in Tescos, I will ask them if they have any out back. Nine times out of ten, they do have these items, they are merely hanging it out to see how many of us will naively settle for second best. 

Next time, when they ask whether I found everything I was looking for I will either be able to sincerely say 'yes' and genuinely thank them for their help, or they won't even get the chance to ask me this question, as I will have gone elsewhere, to somewhere where they do have what I'm looking for. 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Shaking that bump.

From previous posts, many will guess that The Saturdays do not take up any part of my iTunes library.


They symbolise everything I hate: manufactured, squeaky vocals and cheesy, pop songs.
 
They're air-headed stick instincts, who are famous based on their looks ...

However, Alan Carr's Chatty Man on Friday night readjusted my opinions.
 
They were dressed respectfully, not the usual mini skirts and stilettos. They held a conversation well, joining in with the banter. They came across as incredibly level-headed, successful young women.  Quite honestly, I was entertained. They certainly made more of an impression than Sean Paul to say the least.
 
Their transformation from their Up days could come after the drastic changes in their personal lives; Una has a one-year-old little girl and Rochelle is expecting her first baby with Marvin from JLS.
 

Rochelle in particular, evoked great respect from me. She must be about ready to drop and she's still working. Her energy and enthusiasm was simply incredible and it reflected in her mood; she was positively glowing.
 
 
To be honest, I don't think I've even seen a woman so heavily pregnant dance before and in heels as well. I can't dance in heels myself. I admire her dedication to her fans in putting on a good show but I only hope she will eventually start taking it easy for herself and the baby.

When I saw the headline 'Pregnant Rochelle Humes parties with The Saturdays until early hours of the morning to celebrate hitting No.1 spot' today I was slightly concerned that my new found resepct was going to be smashed to pieces, but this is the perfect example of when the media paint someone in a negative light to gain readership. Upon reading, I was pleased to see she wasn't just rolling out of a nightclub absolutely trashed, she had remained sat down most of the evening and was merely 'drunk on life and water'. Since when were pregnant women not allowed to party?
 
I can't say I'll be downloading their most recent album but they have managed to correct my opinions. They may not be the best singers but they are much more intelligent and down to earth than their music gives them credit for and they would be worthy replacements for Girls Aloud in the charts.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

My Sandwich Love Affair.

The sandwich. It's an age old snack and yet it never gets boring. They're always there when I need them, always ready in a matter of minutes if I'm too lazy to cook, they've never given me a bad meal.  

I could sit here and tell you that the sandwich originated from Asia when a Jewish man used flat breads to pick up food from a platter, but quite frankly it's an incredibly dull heritage for something so revolutionary and life changing. 

There is a sandwich for any occasion: breakfast, lunch, dinner, even a half sandwich for a snack. I love each and every one of them, it's not a love triangle but more like several love pentagons.

If you're Gwyneth Paltrow or a health freak, this isn't the post for you, but if you like sandwiches, read on. 

Here's my top five favourite sandwiches ever, which if you haven't tried, you haven't lived... 


5. The Healthy Sandwich 

The kind of sandwiches I'm about to describe are apparently not all that healthy but when you see the rest of my favourites you'll see salad and brown bread make a great deal of difference. 
  • Tuna and Cucumber- only if it's made with mayo.   
  • Cold Egg- only if it's made with salad cream. 
  • Seafood and salad-  Prawns, smoked salmon ... they're all great but they're not the kinds of fillings you have at home to make a spontaneous sandwich.

4. The Tailored Sandwich

One of the things I love about sandwiches is the fact you can theoretically put anything you like in them. Some may not agree but to you they taste amazing so everyone else can just gag on. I don't think mine are too weird but here's some they certainly don't sell in shops ...
  • Tuna and Wotsits
  • Cheese and Baked Beans
  • Toasted Mushroom and Ketchup
  • Cheese and Pineapple
  • Just plain Walker's Cheese and Onion Crisps

3. The Left-Over Sandwich

Two slices of white bread and left-over dinner.

Left-over sandwiches are pure luck, but if you get a good one it's worth the wait. My personal favourite is left over chicken, southern fried chicken, roast chicken, piri-piri chicken, cold chicken, mayo and salad sandwiches never disappoint. Equally though, roast beef and tomato, the BLT and fish finger sandwiches are also popular favourites. The possibilities are endless. Everyone used to get pretty grossed out when I'd have cold sausage sandwiches and ketchup in my sandwiches for school, but it truly helped me get through double science after lunch. 


2. The Christmas Sandwich

Two slices of white bread, Mayonnaise, left over turkey, left over stuffing.

The only reason that this is not my favourite sandwich is that Christmas only comes once a year.  This could have also come under option number three, but turkey is far more superior to basic chicken. That's right, this is the Christmas Extravaganza, some people like cranberry sauce but I love mayo. If you're anything like my family, you buy a big enough turkey just for leftovers in sandwiches. Only 278 days until my next turkey sandwich, bring it on ...

And you thought we were finished there... oh no, we forgot the all important Christmas gammon sandwich. I say Christmas because we only have it at Christmas but if you're lucky enough to have gammon more than once a year, your parents love you. Now generally, I like to fill my sandwiches with several fillings and sauces, but this is the one thing I have just plain with butter. It's perfect the way it is. 


1. The Hangover Sandwich aka. 'The Terminator'


Two slices of white bread, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, one fried egg, two rashers of smoked bacon, two sausages, sliced mushrooms. 

A hangover will go one of two ways, you'll either become well acquainted with a toilet bowl or you will be hungry all day. I prefer the latter and this sandwich is a life saver. 

Now this is not for the faint hearted. If you're not going to do it properly simply don't bother. It takes great skill in a variety of areas to pull this bad boy off. It's a balancing act. If you go top heavy, it's going to topple. If you don't trap the smaller objects, there'll be an avalanche. If you don't cook your egg right, it's going to be a massacre and you'll be missing out on vital colour, flavour and texture. 

Not only do you have to make it correctly but you have to eat it correctly as well. Now, it is to be cut diagonally across the middle. If you cut horizontally you're guaranteed to have more yolk on one side than the other, cut it vertically and you're just stupid. When you go to pick up the sandwich, you're going to need both hands. Hold from the crusts and eat from the top. Failure to do this, will result in dismantlement. 

This sandwich isn't for everyone but you can tailor it to you needs. If you have high cholesterol, grill your bacon instead of frying as it is quite literally a heart attack on a plate. If you're vegetarian, don't think of it as murder, the bread is simply giving the pig a hug. Finally, if you nibble your sandwiches or pick them apart this just isn't the sandwich for you and I'd recommend starting smaller, maybe just bacon. This sandwich needs someone with guts, someone with stamina, someone with passion to do it justice. To get it's full potential you need man-sized bites to get a bit of everything in one mouthful. 

It takes practice I'm not going to lie to you, but if you're determined, you will get there and you won't regret it. 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Descent to the underworld.

The air is thick. The atmosphere steamy. You find yourself uncomfortably nestled in the sweaty armpit of an old man. You can feel the breath of the woman next to you on the side of your face. You can smell the remnants of her lunch, muddled with sweat, and someone else's overpowering aftershave. You're pressed together, skin to skin, like sardines in a tin can. 

It's dirty. It's dark. The glare of bright, artificial, white lights illuminate the way. There's something cold, unnerving, unnatural, about the way they crackle and flicker. 

Nobody talks. Nobody makes eye contact. We stand metres apart, waiting to be inevitably pushed closer together. Yesterday's newspapers flutter effortlessly, elegantly across the platform like tumbleweed in a desert.

Slowly, the noises get louder: whistling, then gushing, then roaring engines and bright round eyes lighting up the tracks, the speed whipping your hair, giving a rare, welcome, gust of air. You hurtle from place to place within seconds, one side of London to the other in mere minutes. You're swept away with the crowd, pushed and pulled from pillar to post, desperately trying to make sense of the maze around you.

That's right, this is the overwhelming pace of underground life, passing by the ordinary individual, a blur of a million faces, and the pitter-patter of busy footsteps. 


I've never been a fan of trains, mainly due to a slight claustrophobia, and I cannot think of anything worse than the London Underground

My throat closes up. My chest becomes too tight. My breathing becomes short and desperate. 

The descent into this underworld fills me with fear, but my desire to explore the city and see more of the world, is forcing me to attempt to overcome it. 

Last year, I took to the Underground more than ever, but most scary was the Metro system in Paris, which I experienced on an art trip last February. I can categorically say this was worse than any experience in London. Of course they share the same dirty, claustrophobic setting, the home of rats, but you are surrounded by twice as many people, all frantically talking in a foreign language. The trains themselves are a lot older and less stable, and just when you think you physically cannot fit any more people in a carriage, a good thirty people will barge their way on at absolutely any cost. 

For twenty innocent British art students, this came as a shock at first, and even after the weekend was over, I was still pretty traumatised, but after forcing myself to be more adventurous in London when I returned, I am gradually getting more confident and in fact, becoming quite fascinated by the whole experience.

I am a people watcher, not some crazy stalker, but people just fascinate me: their mannerisms, their facial expressions, their conversations. Never will you see more people in one place, at such close proximity than on the Underground. Everyone from any walk of life is forced together for that one minute, and it's a real test of character. 

Will that wealthy man give up his seat for the elderly gentleman with a walking stick, or the pregnant lady weighed down with bags? 

Will that young student have the courtesy not to eat his tuna sandwich in the overcrowded cart and wait until he gets off? 

Will you knock over a child, and shoulder barge your way into a cart, or will you wait a mere five minutes for another train? 

In the silence of the Underground, a lot can be communicated, and you can learn a lot about people merely by what they're reading, the muffled music from their headphones, or even their outfit. There's an element of trust involved. Although there is an 'every man for himself' mantra in every commuter, I think the actions of those in the 7/7 bombings of 2005, demonstrate that in the stony silence, there is the potential for human kindness and support, ready for action if necessary. It lies in the fifty pence thoughtlessly tossed to the busker, or the mumbled apology for trampling on your toes. It subtly ripples amongst the unspoken words and diverted eye contact. Nobody wants to think of the possible situations in which this emotional barrier would be forced to be broken, those possible situations that they have all made themselves vulnerable to by choice ...

Today saw the 150th anniversary of the Tube in London. It may not be the most pleasant of experiences and recent years have shown it not always to be the safest form of transport, but without it, we would all be lost. It is one of the most revolutionary creations in British history. 

So Happy Birthday to the London Underground. I will force myself to become better acquainted with your tunnels and pathways, to the big lights of the big city. 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Wonders of the mind.

Magic. It simply enthrals me. I'm not talking about pulling rabbits out of hats, never-ending handkerchiefs in the pocket, sawing someone in half (although that one is pretty exciting). No, this kind of magic has been exhausted generation after generation, with people's quest to discover how the magician does it. 

I just don't understand this concept. It completely destroys the magic in a puff of smoke. For me, the magic is the element of the unknown. Without this element, it is no longer magical; it becomes simply ordinary, like riding a bike or driving a car. Anybody could do it. 

Last night I went to see an amazing local magician called Sylar. He's not a cliché,  wand-bearing wizard but a psychological illusionist. 


Deceptions: Wonders of the Mind saw him manipulating the minds of his audience, controlling their thoughts. Even the biggest cynic would not be able to work how he did some of the tricks he did last night. There were tricks with symbols, money, and it concluded with him actually reading a member of the audience's mind. He demonstrated all of this with random members of the audience and I for one was completely blown away. For all I know, I could have been under a spell or hypnotised, but either way, it worked ...

He specialises in close-up magic as opposed to big, theatrical sets. The simplicity  accentuates his talent. He doesn't need creepy music or lighting, from the outset, he had audiences utterly gripped. They were focused on the tiniest of details, highlighting the smoothness and skill with which he works.

Despite being used to one-on-one interaction and street magic, the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury was the perfect stage to showcase his talent to a bigger audience. There must have been roughly a hundred people there but the venue was warm and intimate with a great view for all. I stuck around afterwards to watch some close-up stuff  for his website with playing cards and the atmosphere was brilliant. I'd watched a couple of videos on YouTube but they just don't do him justice. To see something which doesn't seem possible, with your naked eye, is quite breathtaking. 


Sylar is incredibly talented and I hope he gets the big break he deserves. He is genuinely up there with the likes of Derren Brown and Dynamo, but has a great personality which sets him above the rest. Audience participation was met without reluctance, as his warmth of character shone through. There was humour, modesty and his passion for his art is refreshing time and time again.

If any of you get the chance to go and see him, it is a truly wonderful show and you won't be disappointed. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook, take a look at his website and there are a variety of videos on YouTube. He is also available for private functions such as parties or weddings. 

Prepare to be confused, stimulated and shocked all at once, it's a magical experience. 

Monday, March 18, 2013

Ugly babies, Transylvanian accents and happy-ever-after.

I love going to the cinema but often I miss a film I really want to see and have to wait until it comes out on DVD. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 was one of these films. 

I finally got round to watching it with some friends on Friday evening, and after it was voted as the worst picture of 2012 at the Razzie Awards last month, I wasn't exactly filled with confidence, and prepared myself to be disappointed. 

Now, I wasn't convinced by the ugly, martian-looking computer animated baby. 


The name Renesmee sucked.


The Transylvanian accents were a little dodgy to say the least. 

And it did have the clichéd happy-ever-after ending everyone predicted. 


I can honestly say however ... I loved it. 

It was epic, dramatic, humorous, unpredictable and what's not to love when you have Robert Pattinson's face and Taylor Lautner's body in one film. 

I'm by no means one of these obsessed fans; I will always be loyal to Harry Potter and the fact I waited over four months to see it demonstrates this. I was also quite late in getting involved with the whole Twilight Saga, in fact it wasn't till around the second film that I started watching them, and as much as I tried to restrain, I was instantly gripped by their creepy seduction. I couldn't put my finger on it. Quite frankly, not a busting lot actually happens in the first couple of films. It was the classic 'will they won't they scenario', with a vampire and a wolf thrown in for good measure but I was hooked. I  persevered knowing there was going to be a climax, and Breaking Dawn Part 2, did not disappoint.

I was even impressed by Kristen Stewart. Despite critics describing this as the worst acting role at the Razzies, I genuinely thought she was at her best. Throughout the other films, I thought she was grumpy and lacked personality but in this film she was jumping off cliffs, pulling out some serious Matrix style moves and genuinely became the star of the film. 

It was also refreshing to see the vampires and the wolves united for once. The love triangle of Edward-Bella-Jacob was getting boring, but this film saw a positive aftermath of its dispersion. It's always been Team Edward or Team Jacob, but viewers were no longer forced to choose; there was room to love both. 

Although we always knew Bella and Edward were going to live happy-ever-after, this wasn't to say there wasn't enough twists and turns on the way. The major twist at the end killed all of the good characters about twenty minutes from the end which was unexpected to say the least but thankfully, directors stuck to the book and managed to jump back in time so this never happened. 

Another pleasant surprise was the soundtrack. Have to say I'm not exactly a Christina Perri fan but A Thousand Years is beautiful and could not be more fitting to the film. 


The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 was action packed, full of stunts, and most importantly, despite the predictable ending, the journey to reach it kept me on edge. 

To say this was the worst film of 2012 seems slightly unfair. If this film stood alone, I'd be inclined to agree, but when placed in context of the four other films, this was the perfect climax. It had moved away from the stereotypical blood-sucking to a true love story. 

The finale in the Twilight Saga did not disappoint. The danger of being cheesy was outweighed by a great director and a great cast. 

For anyone who is as behind on the uptake as me, or maybe hasn't seen any of the films, they are definitely worth a watch so go out and get the box set. 

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Beauty is pain?

It is said that shoes are a girl's best friend ...

This is possibly the biggest lie since the Tooth Fairy. 

Now I've never been a shoes kind of girl; I prefer hats or bags. Equally, I've never been particularly 'girly'; I was always more likely to be in a pair of football boots than ballet pumps, but there comes a time in every girl's life to don the killer heels. 

This comes after a night out on the town last night, which has quite literally, left me crippled. I wince when I walk.  My toes feel like they're clamped in a vice. They're still throbbing 20 hours after  removal. Amputation has seemed the preferable option at many points today. I haven't even been blessed with blisters; they are just raw and swollen. 

Here are the beasts that inflicted such pain ...


I have to say, I almost lasted the entire evening. In fact I did last the evening; it was the early hours of the following morning that defeated me. I couldn't take the pain any longer. So, I found myself stood in McDonald's bare foot at 2.30 am this morning. I sound like a tramp, but this pain is honestly inexplicable.

For many, these don't look very high. My best friend practically lives in heels. For her, Tescos is a perfectly good excuse for fancy footwear. Whether they are fur lined wedges or diamanté stilettos,  she has a pair for every occasion. I on the other hand, have only just mastered wedges in the last three or so years, thus the stiletto was new territory. 


I was like Bambi on ice but in my defence, the weather didn't help. I tottered along, falling awkwardly between the cobbles, almost sliding on my derrière in Market Square, and that was just on the way there.  

My Mum warned me not to wear them. I had other possible shoes to wear. I was worried about wearing them, and yet I wore them anyway. 

Why? Why do we do it to ourselves?

Because they look great? Because they make your legs look longer? Because they make your bum look smaller? 

All of this is true, but in fact, they are a further way of objectifying women. They draw attention, and anyone who says it is unwanted attention, is a liar. We do not go through such pain to merely make our legs look longer. 

No pain no gain? Beauty is pain? It's all utter rubbish. I have gained nothing for my pain, only ugly, swollen feet. 

We are all in denial: shoes are a girl's nemesis.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

What's the story?

Storytime. I used to love it as a child. At 2.45, most afternoons, up until year 1, my teacher used to read us a story. A mere five hours later, I'd have story time again at home before bed. My childhood was built up around other peoples fairytales, but now my stories are formulated from reality and experience.
 
 
There's nothing I love more than hearing people tell their stories. Everyone has a story to tell and not a single one is the same. I used to be pretty shy as a child, and even now, sometimes I recoil back into my shell, but I've grown to love talking to people as this is how you hear their stories.
 
Last weekend, I was having lunch in a busy cafe and was joined by a little old lady called Doris as there were no tables left. I thought it might be awkward me stuffing my face with a baguette but in the 17 minutes it took her to drink her milky coffee with two brown sugars, I learnt that she had a husband called John who had fought in the Second World War, that she was a Mother of two, James who had a very clever job that she didn't understand with computers and a daughter Sarah who had three children of her own.  She told me all about Aylesbury, she'd lived there all her life so she told me how it's changed, what shops there used to be, how much smaller the market is. We could have genuinely talked all day but I was only on my lunch break, and she was meeting Edith in The Bell for something to eat at 1.15.  
 
In those 17 minutes it was story time again. It's amazing how much you can learn about someone in a very short space of time. I'm not proposing stopping and talking to every random stranger you meet, but if someone wants to tell you their story, let them, they might be the most interesting person you've ever met and the world would be a pretty dull place without other people.
 
What I'm focusing on now however is my story. I am the writer, the narrator, the protagonist all in one, and I'm only on the first chapter. I've had a pretty productive week for once; I've found something I love doing and it's proving successful. I've spent my week looking around, planning all my possible pathways to chapter two. I learnt early on that life wasn't a fairytale; the world isn't full of unicorns, Princesses and Prince Charmings but this has only encouraged me to work harder for my happy ending.
 

Friday, March 15, 2013

Brighter than the sun by Julia Quinn book review


Husbands don’t grow on trees…but apparently they fall from them, especially when roaringingly drunk. This is something that Miss Ellie Lyndon finds out the hard way when Charles Wycombe, Earl of Billington, falls from an oak tree and straight on her toes, then not long after proceeds to make an offer of marriage. Although completely foxed Charles thinks the very prickly but lovely Miss Lyndon will make a perfect wife, especially as he only has a few weeks to find one before he loses his fortune, but even he is taken by surprise when she accepts his offer and the marriage takes place. But as time progresses, they find that this marriage of convienence could be much more then they ever expected.

I find it so hard to rate a Julia Quinn book, I believe I have, without fail, enjoyed every single one I’ve ever laid my hands on. I know exactly what I will find when I draw back the cover of one of her romances; a quirky lovable heroine; a charming and cheeky hero and dialogue that is bound to leave me with a massive smile on my face, as well a sweet love story that is pure and brilliant brain candy. These books are never going to change the world, but they are well written and whilst I am reading them I can’t put them down and I always enjoy it. So that leaves me with the problem, what shall I rate it?

Brighter than the Sun made me laugh and Charles and Ellie were so adorable together and their banter was witty and well written. But, will I remember this book in 6 months time and be desparate to reread it? Probably not. But don’t let this put you off, it is a great book, it is the marshmallow of the book world it is fun, fluffy, sweet and would go great with a barbeque on the beach!


Samsung unveils Galaxy S4 with 8-core processor, 13MP camera

Samsung Electronics announced the fourth generation GALAXY S 4 with 5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels at 441 ppi. It weighs 130g and is 7.9 mm thick. The phone will be powered by a 1.9 GHz Quad-Core Processor or a 1.6 GHz Octa-Core processor.Running Android 4.2.2 OS, the Galaxy S4 has a 13 megapixel auto focus camera with flash and zero shutter lag.










(Click on the image to enlarge to read)


(Click on the image to enlarge to read)


Nina Dobrev's On-Camera Is Perfected With Tips From Her MOTHER!!


The tantalizing TV starlet took her fabulousness to Conan last night, and you won't believe what she said!
If you've watched her delightfully deviant dramz about vexing vampires sucking sweet blood and making sweet love, this won't be much of a shock, but Nina says she's gotten down with each of her co-stars!!
She revealed:
"I'm pretty sure I've made out with every guy on the show. As my character, of course!"

If that sounds uncomfortable, though, you'll NEVER believe what Nina admitted next!
She continued:
"The awkwardness and the weirdness is when my mom comes to set and I have to do a sex scene or something. That can get kind of weird, but what's even weirder is when I come off set and she starts giving me notes: 'Arch your back more. It'll look sexier if you arch your back.' We're close!"


Kristen Stewart advised to have fun


Los Angeles: Actress Kristen Stewart`s mother has asked her to enjoy life and be with friends while boyfriend Robert Pattinson is away in Australia.

Stewart has been putting in too much effort to bring her rocky relationship with Pattinson back on track after she was caught cheating on him with director Rupert Sanders. However, her efforts have been going in vain.

Stewart`s mother Jules has advised her to do something besides thinking about him.

"Kristen is actually in really good spirits after taking her mom`s advice to just have fun and do normal things. It`s been tough with Rob away and for a while Kristen was down. Her mom has been encouraging Kristen to spend time with close friends like Taylor (Lautner) and to just live in the moment," hollywoodlife.com quoted a source as saying.

"It`s been so long that Kristen has just been a free spirit acting her age. Kristen is quite enjoying doing normal, everyday things. Staying busy and having fun with friends also keeps her distracted from thinking about Rob too much," the source added.

Pattinson is busy shooting for upcoming movie ‘The Rovers’ in Australia.





Robert Pattinson Gets Roughed Up For ‘The Rover’ — New Pic


Looking good, Rob! A new still from the ‘Twilight’ star’s futuristic Western hit the internet on Mar. 15, and proved that he wasn’t afraid to get a little dirty. Is it just us, or does he look pretty good all bloodied up?!
The Rover is a far cry from Twilight – Robert Pattinson is making sure of that. The new picture from the set of the movie shows Rob getting rough and tumble… and we like what we see!

Robert Pattinson: Down & Dirty In ‘The Rover’
The new still, taken and posted by still photographer Matt Nettheim, is of the The Rover’s two main characters, Rob and Guy Pearce, in a bit of a scuffle. A scuffle that Rob appears to have lost, judging by the gun in his face.


Kim Hyun Joong Japan Tour 2013 UNLIMITED Photos from URE PIA MAGAZINE








Justin Bieber Steps Out With Baby Brother Jaxon in Madrid


The "Boyfriend" singer stepped into the role of protective big brother on Thursday as he happily carried younger sibling Jaxon in his arms as he left his hotel in Madrid, Spain, the latest stop on what so far has been a tumultuous European tour.
Justin, 19, held his baby bro out before his Beliebers and the paparazzi, and other than covering his ears from all the noise, Jaxon was all smiles as he and the rest of Justin's close-knit clan stayed by the singer's side prior to Thursday's gig in the Spanish capital.
Jaxon is Justin's 3-year-old half-brother, born to his father, Jeremy Bieber, and his father's wife. The teen idol also has a 4-year-old half-sister, Jazmyn "Jazzy" Bieber.
Jeremy, the kids and Bieber's mom, Pattie Mallette, were in town to support the hitmaker after the rough week he had, which included collapsing onstage in London, lunging at the paparazzi, canceling a concert in Portugal and battling reports he's out of control and rehab-bound.
The crooner was so ticked off by those rumors he ended up posting a lengthy rant on Instagram, only to take more heat for lashing out at Lindsay Lohan's financial situation. He subsequently apologized.


Taylor Swift's '22' Music Video: World Premiere on 'GMA'



Music superstar debuts the video for her hit single exclusively on "Good Morning America."

Miley Cyrus has yet to cancel her wedding date


Miley Cyrus reportedly still hasn’t cancelled her wedding to Liam Hemsworth.

People magazine reports the 20-year-old star is “clinging to the hope” of a reconciliation with the actor. 

A source told the website that the couple have “split for now,” adding that Miley “seems exhausted” after events of recent weeks.

"She has no plans to see Liam but seems to be clinging to hope that they will get back together," the insider said. "Miley hasn't cancelled the wedding."

Liam, 23, has been relaxing in a new $1.6 million bachelor pad in his native Australia which his parents reportedly purchased for him last year.

The Hunger Games star has been spending time with friends and family in the beachside home, keeping a “low profile”, according to E! News.

"He seems in a relaxed mood — he doesn't seem especially sad [or] happy. He seems to be enjoying seeing his family as far as we can tell," a source told the website.

The famous couple were hit by reports that Liam was caught in a clinch with Mad Men star January Jones at a pre-Oscar soiree at West Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont last month.

Miley recently took to her Twitter page to deny reports of a split but has since been pictured without her engagement ring.


Emma Watson turns down Cinderella role


Emma Watson has reportedly has declined an offer to play the part of Cinderella in a new adaptation.The Harry Potter star has apparently turned down the role because of her hectic work schedule, the Daily Express reported. Kenneth Branagh, who is directing the remake of the Disney 

classic, is said to have offered the part to the British star, but now it's been claimed that the 22-year-old will not star in the film. "Emma Watson has decided NOT to star in Disney's CINDERELLA. (sic)" tweeted Variety reporter Marc Graser.
However, it has been revealed to the publication that actress Cate Blanchett has agreed to play Cinderella's evil stepmother in the movie.