If we must…

I do like to get on my Valentine’s day soapbox but really, as you might have guessed by my day job, I love being in love. It’s not my fault, I read too much as a kid.

So to celebrate the smitten kittens, the tortured souls and crushed crushes out there, here’s my Love to Love You, Baby playlist…
Enjoy!

This Mess We’re In – PJ Harvey & Thom Yorke
For my money, it’s the hottest song EVER. Just so you know.

And Darling – Tegan & Sara
Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside

(this link actually includes BOTH my favourite Tegan & Sara songs so yay)

About Today – The National
I cry every time I hear this. And then I listen to Mr November until I feel better. And then I listen to Driver Surprise Me until I cry again. And repeat.

Does He Love You? – Rilo Kiley
Haven’t cried enough? Give this a shot!

Lovesong – The Cure
J’adore The Cure. This song says everything and anything I could ever hope to say to a lover.

Other Towns and Cities – Camera Obscura
Some days this one makes me smile, these days it makes me have a little cry. Either way, you need it in your life.

God Only Knows – Beach Boys
My ex and I used to argue over what was the better wedding song. He likes ‘And Then I Kissed Her’ I liked ‘God Only Knows’. And that is why we’re not married. I feel very strongly about my music choices.

Mine For Keeps – Cathy Davey
Vulnerable anthem for damaged girls everywhere

http://www.last.fm/music/Cathy+Davey/_/Mine+For+Keeps

Turn Me Well – Micachu and The Shapes
A bit left-field but it makes my heart hurt

Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones
Should I even have to explain this?

You Send Me – Sam Cooke
I die

With Or Without You – U2
I hate you Bono, I hate you Bono, I hate you Bono

Cheated Hearts – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It was a big toss-up between this and Maps but either way, you can’t really go wrong

When I Get Up – Tegan & Sara
When this comes on my iPod, I have to have a little sit down

Acetone – Kenickie
We’ve been together for so long… this might be my most enduring relationship

I’m going to go and have a little cry now. Enjoy!

Valentine’s Day

I feel obliged to weigh in on this every year. I don’t know why. I feel obliged to weigh in on most things to be honest. My friend’s relationships, stranger’s outfits, WWE storylines. Loads of things.

I’ve come to the conclusion this year, that valentine’s can’t win. Like with most things in life, all you can do is either be really stupid – ie, one of those couples that revels in giant stuffed dogs, padded cards and overpriced heart shaped boxes of chocolates – or you can not give a shit. In which case, everyone else will give a shit on your behalf and you’ve still failed.

If you’re in a couple, it’s tough. I’ve always been a ‘oh, it’s just a rip off and we don’t need to buy tacky cards and expensive flowers to know we’re in love’ but like any gal, I’m totally susceptible to a grand romantic gesture. And a grand romantic gesture to me does not mean hanging an ‘I Love You Lindsey’ banner from the Brooklyn bridge. It could mean cooking me dinner (even if you’re dreadful) or making a mixtape. I’m so impressed by a mixtape it’s not even funny. I would also much rather go to the dinosaur exhibit at the museum of natural history than for a fancy pants but ultimately shitty prix fixe dinner. Anyone who wouldn’t IS A FOOL

As for the singles… you can’t win. You should just resign yourself now to staying home, not acknowledging the day in any way, shape or form and pretending it just isn’t happening because otherwise, the media will be forced to put you in one of two camps – angry spinster or Jennifer Aniston. There is no in between. You can be the most secure, happy, successful woman on the face of the earth 364 days of the year but on Valentine’s, we all know you’re a blubbering mess, eating chocolates and choking down wine while watching Pretty Woman. Or even worse, you’re out with your girlfriends, all gussied up, drinking yourselves blind and bellowing ‘I don’t need no man’ while snapping your fingers.
None of this may be true but the powers that be have decided otherwise for you and they’ll be damned if you’re going to be an individual.

There is actually an alternative to all of this. Just be born a man and then NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU THINK.
Sigh. Jello.

Whiskers on Kittens…

Ooh, it’s been a shitty few weeks.
No, really, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. And since I’m up against it work-wise, I decided to indulge in a few of my favourite things right here…

The Natural History Museum
I love dinosaurs. Not in a creepy, read loads of books, know loads of facts way, just in a ‘aren’t dinosaurs awesome?’ way. And as such, The Natural History museum is one of my happy places. I will be going very soon, wearing this sweater.

I feel like this falls into the same bin of weirdness as my WWE obsession. And I’m fine with it.

The Bronx Zoo
One of my other favourite place in all of New York (and I suppose tangentially related?) is the the zoo. I Heart the Zoo. I get upset when I can’t find the red panda though. Lame.

Drift Spa at Palms Place
What I’d give to be sat in the sauna at Drift, waiting for massage o’clock right now… sniff.

Lip Balms
I buy an appalling amount of make up. I can’t emphasis just how bad my obsession is. It’s really, really, really bad. But when times is hard (I also like musicals, including Sweeney Todd) I’m cray cray for lip balms. Recently I’ve been going mentals for Maybelline Baby Lips which smell beautiful, Revlon ColorBurst lip butters, Fresh lip balm in Passion EOS lip balm in sweet mint and Dior Lip Glow color enhancer. Amongst others. Does one woman need all these balms in her handbag? No. Do I have them? Yes. Problems? Go and f*ck yourself.

The National
I know I’ve gone on about this before but when things are shitty, there’s nothing that makes me feel better/makes me feel wonderfully worse than binging on The National. I did listen to the Lana Del Rey album and I liked it. Felt like it was a bit long. In case you were wondering.

Netflix
Trapped in the house? Can’t be arsed to get off the settee? Switch on the Xbox and watch seven hours of Family Guy, followed by Dr Horrible’s Sing Along Blog followed by Party Down followed by The Toxic Avenger. There is no bad here.

Twitter
I freaking LOVE Twitter. It’s pretty much my favourite place to hang out. After…

Bloomingdales
Retail therapy makes it better.

You can also add to this list mogwais, 80s teen movies, bubble baths, sitting in the park, kitten snuggling, kissing, coloured jeans, dancing in sequin hotpants and sleeeeeeep.

John Frieda’s California Waves

I love getting my hair did. It’s probably up there in my top ten things to do along with shopping, sleeping, petting kittens and sitting in the sun by Barton Springs with a good book. But who has the time or financial wherewithal to get their hair did or go to Austin, Texas, whenever they want to feel better about life?

Happily, the lovely people at John Frieda have put a shit ton of videos up on YouTube to show us how to make our hair pretty at home. Bless ‘em. I like the California Waves because I’m growing my hair out a bit at the moment and I’ve been having an arse of a time getting any texture into it – straight, straight, straight. But now, wavy, wavy, wavy.
Awesome.

There are heaps more on YouTube, let me know if you try any of these out!

Travel Beauty Must-Haves by Lindsey Kelk

Travel Beauty Must-Haves

25 Films

So, for a shocking change, I’m procrastinating like a mofo and have decided to steal my friend’s idea to watch 25 films selected by 25 friends that I have never seen before. SO, since I’m classifying you as friends, I’d love to get your nominations below! And I’ll be posting the list and my reviews here over the course of the year. If you want to keep up with Paul’s list and tweet him your encouragement, you can do it here.

Suggestions, people?

My 2011 Favourites

I can’t believe it’s two weeks since I’ve blogged.
For shame.
Well, at least I’m back and ready to bother you with my favourite beauty finds of 2011…
I want to clarify, these aren’t necessarily 2011 launches because quite frankly, I’m not nearly as up on launches as I used to be and I don’t read all the press releases I should (more shame) but they are things I found and loved over the last twelve months. I’m posting the list now, before I forget but I’ll update each item on the list with a little bit about why I love them when a) I’ve got more than a minute to do it b) I’m not writing a book and c) I’m not watching Boxing Day Match of the Day.

Benfit Cha Cha Tint – gorgeous coral stain that lasts and lasts and lasts

Benefit They’re Real mascara – This year’s killer mascara. I like to layer over BadGal because I’m wasteful but still lovely on its own

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill shadows – Amazing foiled eyes. Everyone always asks what I’m wearing

Dr Dennis Grossman Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads – CHANGED MY LIFE. Seriously.

Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume – Most delicious perfume in forever and has tempted me away from Coco Mademoiselle…

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer – Cheap, cheerful and (whisper) better than Touche Eclat

EOS lip balms – Love the packaging, love the product

Fresh lip balms – Um, love the packaging, love the product – pricey though

Estee Lauder Idealist Illuminator – I’ve converted so many people to this. Love.

Dr Jart+ BB Cream – I will talk about this later but OH MY GOD. BUY.

Sally Hansen Nail Effects Strips – I like the patterned and glitter effects strips SO MUCH. Thanks Sally.

Shellac Gel Polishes – Long-lasting polishes that have changed my life – no chips = people think I’m a grown up, yeah!

Laura Mercier Baked Shadows – SO pretty, use them dry for a nice subtle effect, wet for drama

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack – Late to this party but totally converted

The millions of Nars lipsticks I have bought during the year – special mentions to Manhunt and Mayflower

Obviously these aren’t the only things I’ve tried and loved this year but they are the things that I’ve rebought or have found their way into my every day kit. Impressive. I’d love to hear what as found a home in your make-up bag in 2011 – email me at lindsey@lindseykelk.com or tweet @lindseykelk