“ When I first put on the Batman costume, I felt like an idiot. Then I kinda stomped around like a big cat crossed with an ape trying to behave like some bizarre mythological creature because that’s what Batman is. And you know that was really enjoyable” Christian Bale on being the next Batman.
“ I am such a huge Batman fan … I know that Christian Bale is going to do an excellent job. I’m really hoping that Katie Holmes doesn’t eff things up. As long as Katie keeps her herpes under wraps things should be ok” Pink is the new blog on Katie’s kissing marathon with Tom Cruise.
“Here is a woman, and I care about Brooke Shields but these drugs are dangerous. When you talk about postpartum…. You can use vitamins to help a woman through those things.” Tom Cruise believes in Scientology ( he thinks he’s mythological creature )
“His comments are dangerous. He should stick to saving the world from aliens’ Brooke Shields knows Tom Cruise should have been in Batman.
“Lila and I argue quite a lot - often about crayons. She’s switched on for a two-and-a-half-year-old and calls me Potty Pete,” Pete Doherty on Kate Moss’s daughter (Is he an Ape?)
“I wouldn’t entertain the idea of taking that boy home, Puny little junky, messing up my cream sofa.” Denise Van Outen on Pete Doherty ( potty Pete)
“Everybody else is chasing her, and she needs someone who’s at home waiting for her.” A friend of Paris Hilton on Paris2 ( at home with a video camera).
“I suggested she should perform the most graphic, crazy sex act I could imagine for the love scene just to try to shock her. Like 10 steps beyond anything I’d consider doing in my own life. She starts furrowing her brows. I’m like, ‘Oh, never heard of that one?” Mr. And Mrs. Smith director Doug Liman asking Angelina to ‘act’
“ No, I’m just trying to figure out whether I’ve done that one.’” Angelina Jolie
“I’m wilder, more sexual than I’ve ever been” Angelina Jolie in GQ (Gawd)
“I’m sure there’s going to come a time when I get back to work again, but it’ll be a totally different way of life than it was before” Britney Spears (she will be a long forgotten mythological creature)

I love an accessory. The shoes, the bags, the sunglasses. They make the world go round. But don’t stop at your wardrobe, you must accessorize your kitchen too. Which is why you should have the cute, little, matching recipe journal to go with your new, chic, Stephanie Alexander’s Cook Companion. In the same gorgeous colourful stripes, it’s as if your Cook’s Companion has it’s own little clutch bag. Plus it means that you can free up that kitchen drawer full of torn recipes and enjoy a winter weekend of therapy; occupational therapy when you paste them all in.

$19 Stephanie Alexander’s Recipe Journal from David Jones.

Headbands are hot. They were all over the catwalks of the international winter collections (in March) giving a clean simple look to hair. Part bling backlash, and part serious sixties Edie Sedgwick homage. And if the Prada and Lanvin showed them that that’s good enough for me. Check out the Lanvin Collection and Prada shows at http://www.style.com then buy one in black of course.
$7 from David Jones or $7 from Diva or find them at Chemists anywhere

Don’t you just love all those cosmetics that are always talking about protecting you from environmental stress? The only stress I need protection from is my credit card when it explodes. But in the beauty department I must admit there have been a few stresses: one is a non de la non hair. So now that I have a fabulous new hair colour and I need a shampoo to protect it. The Aveda colour conserve shampoo seems to do the trick and keep the colour hanging in there, it smells lovely (it’s a 100% organic AROMA! What about the shampoo?) plus it seems to protect from the real stress: seeing my own natural hair colour.

$34 Aveda ColorConserve Shampoo from Aveda stores.

Giorgio Armani, Donatella Versace, Valentino and Gianfranco Ferre staged a fashion show in Rome’s Piazza Navona, entitled “Una Notte a Roma Con … “, or “A Night in Rome With … “. Valentino invited Gwyneth Paltrow, while Versace called on Rupert Everett and Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis.
Puma is teaming up with Alexander McQueen to do a shoe collection.
Capri is the place to be; Designer Michael Kors and Italian cashmere tycoon Sergio Loro Piana have all been staying at the Grand Hotel Quisisana, along with various members of the Vuitton-lugging group. And Mariah Carey is expected in June for a long stay.
“Chromophobia” Martha Fienne’s second film has a characters played by Kirsten Scott Thomas’ ; a frustrated housewife who masks her insecurity with some seriously out-of-control shopping. WWD ( incredible)
Stay at Bono’s hotel The Clarence in Dublin. http://www.theclarence.ieArt Basel, the world’s premier art fair is on June 15 http://www.artbasel.com
This is too groovy; The East Hotel in Hamburg.. http://www.east-hotel.de/….click on the 360 degree view of the pink conference room…
In Buenos Aires stay at http://www.bobohotel.com/english/index.html Choose between a pop, minimalist or techno rooms.
Go to this website and check out all the gorgeous hotels, the one in Sardinia looks great: La Coluccia… http://www.mobygest.it/
This is a cute little hotel in Istanbul from CondeNast Traveler http://www.hotelempresszoe.com
Miuccia Prada swept into London to host an intimate evening with friends including Rem Koolhaas, Anish and Suzanne Kapoor, Maurice and Josephine Saatchi and Marc Quinn. The group saw Gael Garcia Bernal perform in “Blood Wedding” at the Almeida Theatre. Afterwards, Bernal, Kevin Spacey and Brooke Shields (who are performing in “The Philadelphia Story” and “Chicago”, respectively) joined in the dinner for 40 in the back room at Cipriani. ( I was busy that night).
A rarely seen painting by Francis Bacon is to go on display in an Edinburgh exhibition after nearly 30 years in storage in an Iranian museum vault

http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html
Here is a great idea from Google where you can track what’s happening in the Zeitgeist. “For both breaking news and obscure information alike, people around the world search Google. This flurry of searches often exposes interesting trends, patterns, and surprises. The Google Zeitgeist page is regularly updated to reflect tidbits of information related to the search behavior of Google user” Click on ‘Zeitgeist around the world’ and see that Canada loves Hilary Duff, everyone in France loves the Pope, in Ireland they love Ryanair ( to escape) and they are all ga ga for Hello Kitty in Brazil ( it’s all the Brazilians….wax)

http://eclectech.co.uk/camillaqueen.php
This is a hilarious, and you may possibly disappear into this website for years…

Mischa Barton is smitten with Jake Gyllenhaal after they had anight reciting Shakespeare together.
David Beckham has had his son’s ear pierced with a diamond stud to match his dad’s. oh dear
Denise Richards, who filed for divorce from Charlie Sheen in March, gave birth to a girl.
Ashley Olsen is on the cover of US Harper’s Bazaar ( covered up)
Paul McCartney is writing a children’s book called “High in the Clouds: An Urban Furry Tale,” to be released in October,
Kate Moss and Pete Doherty nearly split up during a furious roadside row, which ended with Kate booting her boyfriend out of her car and driving off without him. The couple were reportedly returning from a romantic break together in Ibiza, when an argument turned sour and Kate told Pete to take a hike. ( take a hike)
Paris (male) proposed to Paris (female) last Wednesday after she returned home from Europe. Wow, a new hairdo and a new engagement … and it’s only Tuesday!
Just who is this Paris Latsis? “Boy Paris,” is a Greek-born heir to an estimated $7.5 billion shipping and banking fortune, for which his father, Spiro, was ranked 54th last year in Forbes rich list “His family is so rich, I don’t think people even understand how rich they are,” says one financier. (I do.) Over the New Year holiday they enjoyed a romantic ski vacation in Gstaad, and by January, he’d moved in with her in L.A., after shelling out $10 million in cash to buy the 11,000-square-foot house where they met. Hilton plans to name their children Paris and London, she has said. Goodness only knows what the name will be if they have three. Beirut? The Hiltons family, are estimated to be worth a mere $775 million.
Christian Slater was arrested after feeling a woman’s bottom in a New York street, ( bummer)
Westminster Abbey has barred The Da Vinci Code from shooting scenes in the Abbey after denouncing the book, as “theologically unsound.” (and badly written too).
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have snapped up Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s former marital home.
Nicole Kidman is rumoured to have a new man in her life: French billionaire Francois Pinault, owner of fashion conglomerate PPR, which owns Gucci. “They just started dating,” a snoop tells PageSix.com. The 68-year-old Pinault is according to Forbes, Pinault, worth $US5.9 billion ($7.8 billion). He is also listed as married and as a father of three. As if…
Lindsay Lohan and a passenger in her Mercedes suffered minor injuries when a photographer crashed his car into hers after pursuing her through LA
Kimora Lee Simmons is writing a how to book (How to marry a rap mogul? How to shock and awe a Vanity Fair editor into giving you an 8,000-word profile? WWD)

Oh the Glory of It All by Sean Wilsey
This book was written up in American Vogue and it sounds an absolutely hilarious read. It will make your own family seem sane (incredible). “ a strange, fascinating, complicated and self-involved memoir about boyhood among San Francisco’s social elite. The book contains perhaps the most evil parental figure since Joan Crawford, Dede, his wicked stepmother. Dede allegedly stole Wilsey’s father from his mom, banned afternoon TV, monitored Wilsey’s phone calls, played endless mind games, told Wilsey to change his favorite color from red, and on and on. I’m not sure which Dede will find more disturbing—her foibles being laid bare or the fact that Wilsey admits to masturbating to her photo and smelling her underwear. (oh my god!). Then there’s his mother, a drama queen who once dated Frank Sinatra, held salons, hosted a talk show, asked Wilsey to commit suicide with her and became a globe-trotting peace activist. And his father? A dairy-business millionaire, helicopter pilot and lothario. Wilsey also discusses his pot-steeped days at various boarding schools, including a bizarre cultlike institution in Italy that encouraged lots of weeping and hugging’ Outrageous! .
$17 from http://www.amazon.com Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The (May 19, 2005)

The Christmas List
LaChapelle, Artists and Prostitutes: by David LaChapelle
David LaChapellle is one crazy kooky photographer. Just about everybody who is anybody has posed in one of his dreamlike setups, including Pamela Anderson (in her birthday suit, “censored” by star-shaped stickers), Madonna, Marilyn Manson (as a school bus crossing guard), Tupac Shakur (in a bubblebath), Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez, Eminem, Uma Thurman, Leonardo DiCaprio (as Marlon Brando in The Wild One), Britney Spears (as a scantily-clad hot dog vendor), Christina Aguilera (on a pink horse) This 692-page, XL-sized book is packed cover to cover with full-page images traversing his entire career to date. Bursting at the seams with color, celebrities, sex, camp, and outrageousness, this limited edition pays tribute to the daring and ambitious photographer.
$1200 from http://www.amazon.com Publisher: Taschen (July, 2005) or go to
http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/books/artists_editions/new/facts/02606.htm

It’s crazy everywhere with sales. Try to ignore all the cheap crap and all the ferals scrambling for bargains, and instead invest in serious designer quality and head to David Jones on Seven for 70% off Jil Sander and lots of other gorgeous things..
Economy:
Sportsgirl: Huge Sale: best pieces are the orange or teal leather zip jackets $199, the tan open toe/snakeskin 40’s heels, look expensive, perfect for next season $69 and some other styles in green and with a chic little buckle. Check out the Prada style amber beads now $29 and the new chiffon peach blouse $69.There are lots of good chinos for about $49 and also for good black trousers $49, plus a lot of more. Kookai: have a few pieces in: a pretty grey/brown/yellow/burgundy print chiffon wrap dress $179 and matching top $89, some black and white cuffed pants $169, some cool black leather bags with fringing $159. There are some handy little black, knit, crop, bolero cardigans $159, some black leather slouch bags with drawstring details on sale $99 and some gathered front red tanks $59. Witchery: on sale! If you are in Melbourne and freezing check out the all-in-one black puffa coat with belt and vest now $149, the choc brown suede trench is fab now $299, and so is the new Chloe bag they have done with lots of brass buckles/hardware (like in Cue)$169 (in a salmon pink/peach).Speedos is having a 50% off sale.Portmans: have a black leather shrunken blazer, not bad for $129 and cheapo rib polonecks for $39. Nine West: have some simple round toe heel in lots of colours $119 and the Balenciags almost square toe heels with fringe are in black $149. Esprit: on sale! Check out the groovy tweed straight skirt with brown leather buttons all way down the front , very Micheal Kors now $53, the Prada esque coin/paisley/print satin skirt now $60 and the grey suit jacket $137 and matching skirt $70. Also buy the paisley print blouse now $70 in blues and beiges and the new cream chunky knit long wrap cardigan with a slight gold through it $129.

Business:
Comme Ci Comme Ca: has some chic, little chiffon blouses in dull pastel pink or blue with bell sleeves and the secretary tie neck a la Prada now $99. A good investment I’d go for the blue. David Jones: as reported last week check out the Longchamps bags on sale $119 (the nylon ones with a brown leather trim never go out of fashion and so handy to carry magazines and stuff). Also check out the fab Pedder black Prada esque bag on sale $249 with silver buckles. Plus lots of great shoes are on sale too. Max & Co: Get in here for the sale for fabulous quality for Witchery/Sportsgirl prices! You should buy the black wool melton peacoat $568, the zip black poloneck with paneling $147, the black simple peacoat jacket $368, the grey poloneck $280, and the black wool melton princess coat $650. Check out the black flippy A line skirt $113 and a black, gorgeous flippy skirt now $168, plus double cuff shirts and a black princess coat $476. Also some boots are cool: the choc brown ¾ stud boots $269 and the flat pointy ones in choc brown suede $350, and please buy the camel single breasted coat $560 and the chiffon caftan red and black chiffon top is a must buy at $168…and more… Country Road has 30% off everything. Here’s a hint; buy the books: The Christian Liaigre book is now $70 , the ‘Way We Live’ around $70 and Stephanie’s new Cook’s Companion now $85 from $125. Now is that thrifty or what? Also buy the flat brown boots $170, the clever dark, grey, wool classic pants with a black frayed waistline; they have the illusion of hipster but are slightly higher waisted $189, the chinos are $110, the dark grey round neck sweaters $70, and the gold lurex singlet $50.Check out the cement, grey cotton trench $300, the Gucci esque metalic clutch bags $99 and tan round toe heel boots $259, plus the simple wool fine knit ponchos $99 are cool. Myer: In shoes by Marc Jacobs buy the black 40’s style patchwork heels now $400, the blue suede round toe $350. in Cacherel buy the swirl op art print skirt now $300. in ‘See by Chloe’ buy the black wool Sherlock Homes cape now $360 and the black pants $439. A t Agnes B buy the stripe shirt now $229 and the gorgeous grey knit sweaters around $300 or the cream chunky poloneck is fab for $249. At DKNY buy the camel fitted narrow trench $699 with epaulettes and the Chloe style cami in red $299.

First:
Ralph Lauren: has a lot of great things on sale especially some ‘sporty spice’ tops and hoodies for those weekends away. Check out the gorgeous grey chunky knit sweaters with buttons on neck now $299, a fab black rib poloneck reduced to $199, some classic knits in all sorts of colours. There is the must have camel trench with a detachable lining now $699 ( from $1200), and puffa jackets with fur trim hood $899 from $1400. Buy the cute little stripe B&W T-shirts with red trim now $99, and the fab black zip through jacket $299, plus the red polar fleece jacket $299 and polar fleece vest $169. Bally: There are some new spring summer pieces arrived; Check out the most divine red suede wedge heels with lacing up the leg $522, the tie and ring loafers $375, the fab wooden clog mules $500 and the brown flat toe thongs $475. There are big woven tote bags in hessian $695, brown woven logo slouch bags with bally stripe strap $595 and gorgeous red nylon tote bags with leather trim $600.David Jones on Sale: There is some Akira: a divine black chiffon, multi pleated/paneled, very Lanvin dress now $549, a red and white print chiffon dress $579 and the same in a top and skirt all 30% off. Myer: Check out the Manolos on sale, the pink and red heels now $850 (from $1400) the black patent pointy heels with lace front (patent is big news next winter) now $600 ( from $1200), the teal suede ankle strap heels now $700. Also buy the Chloe seriously high, black, ankle strap heels with brass studs now $500 and the Alessandro Del’aqua black open toe medium heel $265.
Weekend Max Mara is on sale: buy the grey wool melton peacoat now $940, the black drape appliqué jersey groovy tank now $199, the camel trench $860, the black velvet blazer $497 and the divine tweed black belted princess coat with green and red through it, is now $900.And you must have the gorgeous dark grey, wool, wrap flippy skirt now $348. Christensen Copenhagen: New in is the Missoni: you want the stripe dresses $ the shirts and the scarvesPaul & Joe should arrive next week. Plus the collection from Malene Berger has arrived but I am not so sure, it’s very hippy/crafty..And is that new Louboutin shoes I spy?
Belinda: The sale is still going buy the Balenciaga black fluffy coat now $1300..

Sichuan Chicken with Peanuts
Who knows where this recipe came from, probably China. I think it was from Delicious and it is….Good enough for a dinner party but easy enough to whip up after work…

For 4 you need
2 chicken breasts
1 egg white
2 tsp corn flour
4 tabs peanut oil
1 or 2 garlics
1 onion cut into chunks
3 slices of ginger
1 red capsicum cut into Chinese chunks
½ cup unsalted roasted peanuts

The sauce:
1 tabs shaohsing wine
11/2 tabs of light soy
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp chilli bean sauce
½ tsp brown bean paste (if you have it)
1 tsp cornflour

Steamed rice to serve
·Cut up chicken into sexy chunky chunks
·Add the egg white and cornflour and combine
·Set aside to marinate and have a little think all alone in the corner
·Pour a vino and then chop up the capsicum and onion into chunks too (about the size of a Rolex)
·Then make the sauce with the sauce ingredients (amazingly) and set aside in a bowl to have a little chat next to the chicken (but don’t mix them together yet.)
·It’s a great time to pop on the rice and ponder that Gucci bag you saw on e Bay
·Heat up the wok and add the peanut oil.
·Just before it’s about to smoke (you gave it up years ago) add the garlic and ginger and give them a whirl around, then add the capsicum and onion, and stir fry for a few seconds
·Remove these from the wok to wait in the wings for their next appearance.
·And while you are pouring another drink, give the wok a wipe over with a paper towel if you can really be bothered ( with the wiping, not the drink).
·Now smoke up the wok again and stir fry the chicken till it’s a lovely Paris Hilton brown
·Then stir in the sauce, the capsicum, ginger, garlic and onion, and toss in the peanuts
Serve with steamed rice, a glass of wine and George Clooney (he’sdelicious as a side dish).

Melinda and Melinda directed by Woody Allen
The Plot: Australian Rahda Mitchell plays two versions of Melinda. Both suddenly crash a dinner party and create mayhem. Which one is happy or sad, who is the tragedy or comedy? Where does the line fall? I don’t know, it’s all so confusing but Will Farrell as a Woody Allen character is hilarious…
Who: Radha is fantastic, Chloe Sevigny is cool as an upper West side prep, Amanda Peet is great and Chiwetel Ejiofor is cheeky as a gallant pianist and composer who has the extraordinary name of Ellis Moonsong…
Acting: fabulous…
Interiors: It’s all classic Woody Allen New York: long hallways, high ceilings and open kitchens and all arty lofts with eccentric objet’s D’art…
How many times the F word is mentioned: 6
Designer inspiration: Chloe Sevigny can’t help herself and looks nerdily cool in Marc Jacobs, with high waisted skirts and cool trenchs and heels. She can’t play a dag even if she tries. Melinda has chic hair for happy and scruffy hair for tragic. Which is funny.
Salon de Beaute: Not so sure about the lipstick on Melinda. Hair and makeup had the day off
Blood’n’ guts: They talk about it.( it’s Woody Allen)
Car chases: They walk in New York
Smooches: a few high jinks
Smokin’ smooches: Let’s just say the fire alarm doesn’t really go off
Botox; laugh did we laugh (in bits)
When Harry met Sally romance Richter scale: Woody loves a love story
See it or donate to the Prada bag fund? See it and then be inspired to go to New York to buy the Prada bag on sale. Is that funny or Tragic?