I'm not dead...yet

Ok ok, I've been bloody terrible at writing something new at this place. I've been busy thinking about all the stuff I should have done that I've practically have done nothing that I should have been doing. I've been living in Oslo the last two weeks, and this will be my home for some years (at the least) and I have started at UIO-Literature studies (which will be my home for at least three years). I will try to get some pictures of my newly decorated room, but I have no idea how to get the pics from my camera to my computer, at the moment.

So, here are some pictures I've already got on my computer; the pics from Paris:

Inspiration #2

Eva Green

Finaly; Paris!

Beside som terrible weather and grumpy or sleazy frenchmen, Paris was lovely. We got to...

...see some beautifull places:
Château de Versailles
Jardin des Plantes
Shakespeare and Company
Montmartre
Avenue des Champs-Élysées

...visit some interesting museums:
Musée de L`Erotisme de Paris
Musée du Louvre

...see some famous monuments/churches
Tour Eiffel
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Le Sacré-Cœur

...sing Aux Champs-Elysées to cheer ourself up everytime it rained
...eat tastefull desserts in the Häagen-Dazs restaurant

[pictures will be posted in an entry by itself]

au revoir

bonjour Paris

Paris, je t'aime: How to get in that French mood Pt. 1

Christina and I are leaving for Paris on Sunday, so I'm getting myself into that (extra) French mood. I love French music and movies, so here comes a small "how to" entry on what kind of music you should listen to if you want to get in that special French mood.

(oh, and if you scroll over some of the songs, there are links so you can listen to the songs)

Yann Tiersen

Some of you might have heard of him when it comes to the soundtrack of "Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain", but I would recommend you to listen to some of his other work. My favourite atm. is his jazzalbum from 2005; "Les Retrouvailles". It got those thypical "Amelie" songs like "La Boulange", but also some calmer and more relaxing songs like "Kala" and "Plus d'Hiver" (the last one with Jane Birkin on the vocals)

Jane Birkin

Known as the muse and lover of Serge Gainsbourg, but is also a talented artist. She recorded alot of songs with Gainsbourg, but has also made her own career as a solo artist. She does not have the most beautifull voice in the world, but a fragileness that only her daughter Charlotte has recreated after her. Listen to her album "Rendez-vous" from 2004 where she sings duets with lots of famous singers like Brian Ferry, Brian Molko and Feist. Some of the songs are sung in English (like "Smile" and "Canary Canary"), but some are also in French (where my favourites are "Je m'Appelle Jane" and "Te Souviens-tu")

Serge Gainsbourg

He is the French singer above all French singers. I bet all of you have heard his duet with Jane Birkin; "Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus". It's an erotic song originaly recorded with Brigitte Bardot, but was later recorded with Jane. Another song was recorded with Bardot which is one of my favourites; "Bonnie and Clyde". Some of you may also have heard the song "Ballade de Melody Nelson" which has later been remade by Placebo

Charlotte Gainsbourg

She made her musical debut on her fathers song "Lemon Incest". She was only thirteen when she recorded that song, so its not odd that the erotic musicvideo with her dad shocked alot of people. She has also released two soloalbums, where the first one is mostly in French and are duets with her father, while the latest one is mostly in English. The latest is my favourite with songs like "The Songs That We Sing", "The Operation", "5:55" and "AF607105".

Julie Delpy

She may be more famous for her acting, directing and screenwriting, but she has also made some pretty cute songs. Many of them were featured in the movie Before Sunset ("An Ocean Apart", "A Waltz For A Night" and "Je T'aime Tant"), but she has also recorded her own album and made the score for her movie 2 days in Paris (where she also recorded the song "Lalala" with Nouvelle Vague). I love her unperfect and cute voice.

Edith Piaf

While Gainsbourg was the male French singer above all singers, Piaf has to be the best female singer. She lived a pretty hard and short life, but some great songs (and a great voice) came out of it. My big time favourite is "Rien De Rien", but other songs worth mention is "Milord", "L'hymme a L'amour", "Padam Padam", "L'accordeoniste" and one song that most of you have heard "La Vie En Rose". I would also recommend you to liste to the soundtrack of the movie with the same name.

Carla Bruni
Known as a singer and model, but also the wife of the president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. Its her latest album "Comme si de rien n'était" I have listened to the most, but I have also listened to her English album "No Promises". I have to say I prefer her French, with songs like "Ma Jeunesse", "Notre Grand Amour Est Mort", "Péché d'Envie" and "Tu Es Ma Came".

Some old jazz songs like:
Fred Astaire: "Puttin' On the Ritz"
Ella Fitzgerald: "Puttin' on the Ritz"
Ella Fitzgerald: "Night And Day"
Ella Fitzgerald: "Just One Of Those Things"
(the best version is with Louis Armstrong, but I could'nt find it)
Cole Porter: "Anything Goes"
Frank Sinatra: "I Love Paris"

Next time: French movies to watch

Inspiration #1

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Summer Fresh

Everybody who knows me well, know that I’m not the kind of girl running around in my bikini or sunbathing in the summer. Still I like to be abit prepared for the summer, so here are some of the things I’m using to get my ”body, mind and soul” ready for the (hopefully) nice summer weather:

For the face:
Estee Lauder DayWear Plus
Elisabeth Arden 8hour cream
MAC eye cream
Organic Surge facial mask
Rosebud Salve
H2O Ocean: Piercing spray
The Body Shop: Cream Exfoliatior with E-vitamins
Darolys Paris: Freshness Foam Gel
Darolys Paris: Gentle Peeling

For the body:
Helosan original: to keep my tattoos all pretty
The Body Shop Body Butter: Coconut
The Body Shop Body Butter: Wild Cherry
The Body Shop Body Scrub: Wild Cherry
Asan bikini: mild gel for intimate shaving
Dove Summer Glow: for fair skin
Asan mild intimate wash
Very Irresistible Givenchy perfume: smells all summery and nice


For the health:
Fruit/Berries: my favourites are kiwi, pineapple, watermelon, cherry, pear, plum and peach
Vitamins: multivitamins and C-vitamins.
Water: icecold water = yum!
Walking trips: I’m not the person who works out, but I’m trying to get my body out of the chair for once and walk/run abit.

a new era - a fresh start

I honestly didn’t think that I would get a fresh start at the age of almost 20. Turning 20 (or 18, or 19) haven’t meant a lot to me, because I still want to be a kid (no problems, no responsibilities, right?). Anyway, at the age of (almost) 20, I find myself going into a new era, with a fresh start. I’ve had a pretty much tough year and my teenage years have been somewhat shaky, but as the months have gone by I have felt that I’m leaving those years behind me and all the little puzzle pieces are falling into place. I’ve pretty much becomed the person I was when I were a kid, (with abit more wisdom and a lot more responsibilities) which actually feels great!

So these are the puzzle pieces that are falling into place:

4 days left at work:
I’ve had a wonderful time working at Platekompaniet, and I’ve got to know a bunch of lovely people, but it comes a time when its time to move on. I’m leaving town so I have to leave this job as well, but I hope that I get the chance to keep working for these people in the future somehow. Anyway, I’m leaving work abit earlier to do some things for myself. To get the time to travel, read lots of books, watch gorgeous old movies, sit up all night drawing and writing silly stories that fills my head, and just to be ME for a while without thinking about duties and responsibilities.

New city, new apartment:
I’ve had best of luck and have found three sweet people that have said yes to share an apartment with me in Oslo. So now comes the real time to start being an adult and I will have to pay my own bills, wash my own clothes, make my own dinner and do all those things I have pretty much taken for granted. It does feel nice to finally start on all this. And I can’t wait to start packing all my stuff and by new furniture for my room.

Paris:
In a two weeks time, Christina and I will be in Paris. This is a trip I’ve been dreaming of for a long long time, and the day is soon here. We will shop pretty things in lots of second hand stores, see beautiful places like Versailles, pretend that we are Amelie, drink tea/coffee at small Parisian café’s and simply enjoying life for a while…. Paris, je t'aime

School:
After one year off school, I’m finally starting school in August. The plan is to start studying literature, and the truth is that I’m actually looking forward to start reading and studying again.

Good friends:
Friends are always there, but these days I can’t stop thinking about how lucky I am to have such good friends (both new and old). You know who you are, and you all makes life so much better and so much more fun. Thank you!

A “love interest”:
Yes, you heard me. Anyway; this is pretty much the only thing I’m gonna write about this, but you know who you are, and you do make me happy.



I do know that some days will come with a few obstacles and some bad news, but I feel strong and fit enough to handle them. Maybe I’m starting to grow up?