5 Things I Love This Week
1 Lip Kiss Crayon Gloss & Zero Oil
Lise Watier’s Lip Kiss Crayon Gloss ($18) is my new beauty obsession! It’s basically a lip gloss pencil that leaves a creamy texture on your lips when applied. I love how easy it is to slip one of these in your purse. Mine comes in Passion Fuchsia but there are other fun colors like Mango Punch, Pink Jelly, Rose Intense, etc. To make the most use of these beauties I’d recommend that you buy a jumbo pencil sharpener.
My other beauty obsession of the moment is something called Zero Oil ($14.50) made by Origins. I’ve a VERY oily t-zone and I find this product to be the only one that can truly control shine!
2 Gangnam Style is Coming to Houston
Not quite, but Saturday, November 3rd marked the 2012 Korean Festival in Downtown Houston. According to their schedule, there will be a Gangnam Style costume and dance contest at 4:20 PM. 
From 10 AM-7 PM, everyone is invited to participate at this free event at Discovery Green. For the first time this year, there will be a Kimchi Eating Contest. So who’s going to enter to be crowned the first King or Queen of Kimchi??
You can choose to do the after-party at the Market Square Park. Again, it’s a free and open event to the public. Starting at 7:30pm, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys will play Cajun French music to your sweet ears so bring your lawn chairs and blankets. The food and drinks at the Niko Niko’s Market Square are awesome too.
3 She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)
David Guetta is teaming up with Sia once again in this new track “She Wolf” and it’s EUH-MA-ZING! Sia’s powerful and crispy voice adds so much dimension to this already very catchy song. Since “Titanium”, I get excited when these two make music together.
4 Erica Weiner
I love Erica Weiner’s jewelry. In light of the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the company is offering 15% discount on all online purchases through November 5th. Just enter this promo code at checkout in order to redeem: TOTO
Here are some of my favorites:
5 Good Good Eat (Jap Ramen Noodle Wheat Crackers)
OMG What are these made of?! I can’t stop munching on them 
WARNING: Can be found at Ranch 99 grocery stores
Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix
Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix,
comme s’ouvrent les fleurs
aux baisers de l’aurore!
Mais, ô mon bienaimé,
pour mieux sécher mes pleurs,
que ta voix parle encore!
Dis-moi qu’à Dalila
tu reviens pour jamais.
Redis à ma tendresse
les serments d’autrefois,
ces serments que j’aimais!
|: Ah! réponds à ma tendresse!
Verse-moi, verse-moi l’ivresse!
Dalila! Dalila! Je t’aime!
Ainsi qu’on voit des blés
les épis onduler
sous la brise légère,
ainsi frémit mon coeur,
prêt à se consoler,
à ta voix qui m’est chère!
La flèche est moins rapide
à porter le trépas,
que ne l’est ton amante
à voler dans tes bras!
|: Ah! réponds à ma tendresse!
Verse-moi, verse-moi l’ivresse!
Dalila! Dalila! Je t’aime!
Kasabian was here ‘12, Houston, TX
One of the best things living in the states is that you can get to see great bands like Kasabian in smaller venues making it a more personal experience for the fans. The English rock band are a staples in their homeland, but they are lesser known here in the US. They chose to perform at the Fitzgerald’s last night in Houston, Texas, as part of their North American leg which kicked off earlier this week.
With the main show starting about an hour late and the venue being a beat down version of the Houston House of Blues, I was skeptical at first of how the night will unfold. Despite the terrible sound check, Kasabian delivered on a high note to the joy of the highly excited crowd. Scouting the audience I spotted concertgoers as young as 10 years old (accompanied by their parents of course) and as old as 50 years old.
Kasabian played a mixed bag of old and new songs at their gig. I’ve come to like the band through hits such as “Club Foot” and “Underdog”; however, I’m totally digging the new songs from their latest 2011 album, Velociraptor! One of the new tracks that stood out to me was the OH-mazing “Switchblade Smiles”. OMG, that song sounds unbelievable live and the beat is nothing I’ve heard before (a sort of indie & rock meets electronic sound). Another awesome new track is called “Goodbye Kiss”, a very poignant song with beautiful melody. Other phenomenal new tracks include “Velociraptor!”, “Days Are Forgotten”, “Re-Wired”, “Man of Simple Pleasures”, and I can go on and on. Kasabian really hits gold with their new album!
I think it was during the encore when the band played “Vlad, the Impaler” that I felt Fitzgerald’s trembling beneath me. The crowd energy was at its peak and you can quite feel it! I personally haven’t seen so many crowd surfing during a concert in my entire life. And in a way I felt Fitzgerald’s was a good choice for a venue where it’s easy to just get loose, get loose (no pun intended).
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 (2011)
Breaking Dawn Part 1 opens up with Jacob Black reading a wedding invitation from Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, which makes him so angry that he morphs into a werewolf and runs into the woods. Meanwhile, wedding preparations are in full swing at the Cullens. However, at only 18, Bella is extremely nervous about walking down the aisle despite her indisputable love for her vampire beau. Marrying to her love means she might have to distant herself from her dear friends and family so that they won’t suspect the Cullens are a family of bloodsuckers. After the wedding reception, the newlyweds headed to a private island (a wedding gift from the Cullens!) off the coast of Brazil for their honeymoon. Bella and Edward finally consummate their love and soon after find out that Bella is pregnant with a half-vampire, half-human child. The unborn baby develops at such an unnaturally accelerated rate that it is posing a threat to Bella’s health. Both Edward and Jacob urges Bella to have an abortion, but she refuses having felt a connection with the unborn baby.
The first part of the fourth installment in the Twilight Saga deals with more mature themes such as life and death, having control of your own destiny, and of course true love. Director Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Chicago) brings the much needed sense and sensibility that were missing in the last two movies of the series. Condon’s vision of Bella and Edward’s wedding surpassed my wildest romantic imagination. It is one of the most beautiful weddings ever put on film. And to see past characters in the audience (including a cameo of the book author’s Stephenie Meyer) as Bella walks down the aisle brings a sense of closure and satisfaction to the loyal viewers. Yet, Breaking Dawn Part 1 is not without flaws. Some scenes are dragging and should have been cut in the cutting room. Others are so silly that I don’t know if the scenes were intentionally added for comical purposes or what. Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Edward Cullen is still woody (is it because of the heavy makeup?!) even thought he was on point in Twilight (2008). Taylor Lautner, who plays Jacob Black, is the breaking star in this movie. He plays well his part in the love triangle between him, Bella, and Edward.
A review of a Twilight movie is not complete without a review of its soundtrack, which is usually loaded with indie rock bands and artists. This time around, a rising pop star, Bruno Mars, made it into the album with his infectious moody song “It Will Rain.” Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” is a more subdued song with lyrics that are more beautiful. My two favorites are the very catchy songs “Turning Page” by Sleeping At Last and “From Now On” by The Features. Also worth to check out is the wedding version of “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” by Iron & Wine and the instrumental version of “Eclipse (All Yours).”
Overall, Breaking Dawn Part1 did not disappoint. Let’s hope that the final installment (also directed by Bill Condon and to be released on November 16, 2012) will somehow close the deal by creating a long and lasting memory for the fans of the books and movie adaptations.
You’re The One That I Want–The Lennings
I randomly tuned in to NBC’s Parenthood the other night when I heard the best cover of “You’re the One that I Want” from Grease. It was haunting and completely original! I didn’t have my phone in hand to look up the artist using Shazam, but in the end I was able to find the band. They are the Lennings from Austin, TX, and sound very promising. Check out their originals like Section C below.
2011 Texas Renaissance Festival (Roman Bacchanal Themed Weekend)
It’s become a tradition for many Houstonians to come to the Texas Renaissance Festival, but for my part, it was my very first time this year. Coming from 59 South to Plantersville, traffic was pretty bad so it took us a little more than an hour to get there. But once we arrived, the place exceeded all of my expectations! The festival is so much bigger than I imagined. The locals are very much in their characters and they would add “my Lord” and “my Lady” to everything that they’d normally say to you. We thought it was hilarious!
Almost everyone is in some sort of costumes or adorning accessories. Although the weekend we went to was Roman Bacchanal, I saw all kinds of costumes not necessarily related to the current theme. As a warning for parents, some costumes are very revealing and baring too much skin in my opinion. Also, some games could expose you to offensive language, insults, and jokes in adult nature. Good thing that those games come with a warning sign so children and persons with delicate ears could stay away.
We mostly walked and only stopped for a few game shows, but in the end it took us about 2 hours to do the whole tour. If you’re really into this kind of thing, I can see how you can easily spend a whole day at the festival, which is open from 9 A.M. until dusk. There are plenty of food courts, bars, and apparel and accessories stores. Turkey legs and funnel cakes seem to be in popular demands.
Overall, I enjoyed my experience. Would I go here again? Probably not unless I’ve out-of-towners that I’d like to impress I’d definitely bring them here! The festival will run for 2 more weekends so hurry up and make your plans!
November 19th & 20th – Barbarian Invasion
November 25th, 26th & 27th – Celtic Christmas
Here’s the entrance to the village wholly dedicated to all things medieval and more. It sure feels like going to Disneyland!
You can find ATM machines at every corner.
Apparently some people like to get married here. I saw a few chapels with different themes!
FFS = Fairies Fashion Show!
This Marie-Antoinette’s costume is so pretty!
Coming here, you almost feel out of place if you’re not in costumes!
That is one giant turkey leg!
Elephant ride? Check. Camel ride? Check. Lhama ride? Check!
As you can see, there are activities for all ages!
The Arena is HUGE! Unfortunately, we didn’t stick around long enough to catch a show but I bet it’s amazing. You should definitely print out a map and show schedule before going here; it would be tremendous help.
