by | July 3, 2012

Show Me The Monet – TV review

Hanging Committee – Show Me The Monet

Dragons Den would have been my pick of the night when He and I were hard working corporates, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. We would dream of the entrepreneur start-up life. Then, I had a taste of it and spat it out; it’s no dream.

And Britain’s Got Talent, X-Factor and The Voice were never a reason for me to stay in on a Saturday night but, one benefit : at least the Smalls in our house didn’t object to our going out as they sat, with the babysitter, glued to the ‘talent on the box’.

Curiously, watching the first episode of the second series of Show Me The Monet (9th July BBC2), I had a strange feeling that both of these programme genres had been combined to create… yet another talent show. Presented by one of television’s most popular sports presenters Chris Hollins, the show’s judges evaluate wannabe artists’ talent. But, are we judging and viewing more than just the art here? It does seem that the heartstring-pulling personal lives of the entrants play an important part in the programme’s content.

Among those competing for a place in a prestigious London art exhibition and sale are a former costume designer who has beaten breast cancer, a forklift truck driver and a former gravedigger. Together with their piece of art they face the highly critical Hanging Committee. Charlotte Mullins, a frightening blend of art historian, critic and broadcaster, David Lee a renowned art critic and historian and Roy Bolton, a curator and dealer.

Unlike singing, dancing or even spotting the latest ‘yellow post-it’ invention, art is an entirely personal connection. What might evoke emotion in me, probably would mean nothing to you. As you can imagine, the judges are scathingly ruthless in their feedback and, as the competitors need at least two of them to respond positively, many do not make the exhibition and sale.

So, tune in for the latest reality talent show at your own peril. You might even find yourself exploring your own artistic taste but personally I found the judge and talent set-up to be dull and tired. Maybe, it’s the art or maybe it’s the format. Either way, Monet is currently turning in his grave.

Show Me The Monet will air for 15 episodes, every weekday at 3pm, from 9th July on BBC 2.

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under TV

by | July 1, 2012

Skulls with Freckles

It all began with Kooky Cook’s birthday a couple of years ago.  Scouring my favourite online outlets, I couldn’t find anything original enough for her.  Then I came across Freckles in the Sun.  Inspired travel ideas for those of us with kids out of nappies and a shop tempting me with an eclectic mix of goodies.

Solwang Design dishcloths £12

The birthday girl received Solwang Design’s divine coloured cotton dishcloths (which were exclusively sold by Freckles in the Sun but now you’ll find them in Skandium and other scandi retailers) and a Keepcup, in a wacky colours.

KeepCups from £7.40

 

 

 

 

So imagine my surprise when I put 2 and 2 together and realised that My Blonde has been friends with Freckles for years….  A small yet fabulous world.

I met Freckles for coffee last week to find out what is currently rocking her mostly-sunny world.  She and her gang have travelled (and blogged) from NYC to Belize to Somerset over the past few months and have brought us home a little something for those looking for that exclusive purchase…

Iwona Ludyga’s silver skully bracelet £90

 

COMPETITION PRIZE:  Current mouse-candy on her site is New Yorker Iwona Ludyga’s silver skully bracelet (£90), so I begged Freckles (shamelessly) to give one away to a lucky LifeofYablon reader.   For a chance to win, read about her NYC travels here and tell us which month she went?

Email the answer to info@frecklesinthesun.com

Competition ends 8th July 2012.

 

follow @yablon to find out the winners of this competition…

Leave a Comment

Filed under fabulous finds, friends, prizes, shopping

by | June 29, 2012

celebrity stylist Peter Lux gives me the blow down…

The summer sun is on the horizon.  We wait all year round to feel the warmth of its rays on our pale winter-inflicted bodies and then… it bleaches and dries out our hair ruining a full head of expensive highlights.

Taking precautions this year, I headed off to meet a man in the know.  Now, it is hardly surprising (but very convenient) that Peter Lux has a great head of silky, thick, shiny hair.  I soon gathered that as Head & Shoulders’ creative beauty director and a leading force in the hair industry, there is very little Peter does not know about hair styling, conditioning, cutting and colour.  Spending most of his time back stage at couture fashion weeks and working on high brow advertising campaigns for the likes of Wella, Pantene and Remington, I wondered how he squeezes in his celebrity clients such as Cat Deeley, Claire Danes and Jude Law -and still had time for an amateur hair enthusiast like me.

As he shampooed, conditioned and styled, I persuaded him to divulge his rule book of hair, with a particular focus on hair protection during the (questionably) long, hot summer.    Walking out of the salon with fabulously swishy blow-droed hair, I made a mental note to never travel with out a wide brimmed sun hat and to comb through conditioner (perhaps even Head&Shoulders hydrating smooth and silky) when hitting the beach.

And here I am interviewing Peter and having a blow dry (cringe)! 

 

This is a Head & Shoulders sponsored post which also appears on Beauty and The Dirt.

 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under beauty

by | June 28, 2012

guest blog: Neighbour admits Husband was Right

In the first of my (hopefully many) guest blog posts, my Neighbour friend reviews Henry V at Shakespeare’s Globe:

Jamie Parker’s Henry V struggles to woo Olivia Ross’ French princess

With a feeling of dread akin to the gloom I remember feeling at school, heading off to watch A Midsummer Nights Dream for the third consecutive year, I dragged my feet unenthusiastically South of the River last night for my “no longer a surprise” surprise trip to see the Shakespeare’s Globe production of Henry V.

My “surprise” birthday theatre trip was foiled 2 weeks ago, when a “Globe” envelope dropped onto my doormat. Excited me rushed to my computer in anticipation of discovering an evening of Macbeth awaiting me. Horrified me discovered to my dismay that my “treat” was an evening of Henry V.

I am ashamed to admit that I am not a lover of Shakespeare. Indeed at school, I don’t think I ever actually read a single entire play, instead meticulously studying Letts Revision guides to help me scrape my way through English Literature O’Level. So as I ungratefully shuffled into The Globe last night, I was expecting long, dull, political, humourless Shakespeare. I could not have been more wrong.

Once I’d read the Synopsis (essential to understand that King Harry was to plan an invasion of France following a patronising gift of tennis balls from the French), I was gripped by a superbly directed production that managed to strike a balance between the drama of Alpha Male English Royalty  and the humour of leek eating Welsh soldiers, with some commode hilarity thrown in. Such was the effectiveness of both the clever stage direction and powerful acting that I quite forgot the play’s 16th century language and the fact that I was meant to be thoroughly bored. Instead, I fell in love with both Jamie Parker (a charismatic, heroic and dashingly attractive King Henry) and the entire production.

As I sat down at the end of my standing ovation, I turned to my smug husband.  As he looked at me and said “I told you you’d love it”,  I had to admit it, he was right.  I had loved every single minute.

Until August 26th.  www.shakespearesglobe.com

(If you too would like to guest blog for LifeofYablon, do let me know by emailing your suggestion to editor@lifeofyablon.com )

Leave a Comment

Filed under theatre