“I gained breasts having this baby but I think I lost brain cells,” Helena Bonham Carter (that’s Pamela Anderson’s excuse too).
“I feel so honoured that you have honoured our family – sorry, repetition of the word honoured. Sorry, I’ve just had a baby. My brain cells are coming out of my breast milk.” Gwyneth‘s version ( any excuse!)
“ Her cravings for pasta dishes are getting out of control,” an on-set source tells the Daily Mirror about Julia Roberts.( excuses excuses).
“Now that I’ve let go of all my ideas about how I should look, all of a sudden I’m this” . Christina Riicci on now being a thin Hollywood actress ( All of a sudden Skinny? Honey it takes work!).
“I think if we’re honest, there’s a creepy side to most men that kind of likes the idea of a Stepford wife,” Mathew Broderick.
“I kissed a bunch of frogs and finally found my prince,” About to be Stepford wife Britney on fiance Kevin ( Britney Justin Timberlake is NOT a frog).
“I probably will get married again at some point. Just because things didn’t work out with Nic doesn’t make me feel that it can’t work out for me,Tom Cruise on getting a Stepford wife.
“It was just another day at the office – a very nice day at the office!” Keira Knightley on filming sex scenes in her new film King Arthur and straddling Clive Owen.
“One of the reasons I became an actor was that I’d heard you could meet queers in the British theatre. And it’s true. Thank goodness.” Sir Ian McKellen on another day at the office.
“There is absolutely nothing, nothing wrong with their relationship. They are as happy as they have ever been.” Posh’s mother (he just sleeps with other women thats all. Another day the office.)
“I’d probably ask for a rain check.” tennis star Andy Roddick reply to Elle magazine hypothetical “It’s midnight before your first match at the Open, and there’s a knock on your hotel room door. It’s Charlize Theron with a bottle of Champagne. Do you let her in?” ( Becks take note)
“According to reporter Matt Thompson, (www.editorsweblog.org) since May 23rd the New York Times has expended 17,000 words on Paris Hilton stories and only 10,000 on stories about Darfur, Sudan. We’re not that up on the news, so we’re not sure who this Darfur person is, but evidently she needs a better sex tape” Gawker

Sales are everywhere but some are more exciting than others which is why you better get into cheap but chic MANIA and hop, skip and jump to the:
ANDREA & JOEN shoes, FRU FRU and MAVI JEANS ANNUAL CLEARANCE SALE
DATE: SATURDAY 3RD JULY 2004
VENUE: MEDINA ON CROWN – 359 CROWN STREET SURRY HILLS
TIME: 10AM – 5PM
Cash only!

I have an aversion to scales: they always tell me something I don’t want to know. Of course that’s only when I stand on them (and kick them!) in the bathroom. But when I’m in the kitchen that’s a different story. At the centre of FiFi HQ I actually need and want to measure things (as opposed to waist or hips) to ensure my cooking is nothing short of crowd pleasing fabulousness. Which is why I need scales that work and most importantly look good. Just like the red cool retro scales I found in Pulp Kitchen (in Bondi Junction). Not groovy or modern (gasp!) or even slick these are a remake of the old fashioned kitchen scales and are perfectly in keeping with the whole retro look of next summer.
Retro Kitchen scales $79.95 Pulp Kitchen 9386 0002

I’ve worked out why the Hermes Birkin bag is so popular, it’s because it’s so big. All girls need a huge bag just to carry all their cosmetics around. Oh, yes being beautiful takes a huge effort (don’t we know it) and lugging all those products from mascara to perfume around is exhausting. The way things are going I need to employ a porter just to follow me with my makeup bag. So I was thrilled when I found a cute little solution to the perfume bottle carrying problem. L’Occitane have fabulous little tins of solid perfume which are about the size of a lip gloss. Perfect to throw in the bag without spilling and to dab on during the day when you are getting up a sweat from shopping. Perfect for traveling too and you will love the Green Tea fragrance.

L’Occitane Green Tea Fragrance Pot $17 from L’Occitane stores.

Grand Central station in New York has been covered in acres of gaudy floral carpet as an art installation by Rudolf Stingel and produced by Yvonne Force Villereal. 120,000 commuters a day will be able to view it .Titled “Plan B” and installed for the month of July within the Vanderbilt Hall, the work consists of a 2,500-square-meter, stretch of carpet covering the entire floor of the hall and woven with a pattern of bright blue roses on an even brighter pink ground.iht
The forthcoming 416-page coffee table book “Tom Ford” will go on sale on the one-year anniversary of his announcement that he would be stepping down at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. With more than 300 images from Mario Testino, Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts, Terry Richardson,it will feature a foreword from Anna Wintour.WWD
Lafayette Maison is the new homewares store of Galleries Lafayette in Paris, 10,000 sq foot of designer homewares on Blvd Haussman opposite L’Opera.
Australian Architect Sean Godsell’s design work ‘Future Shack’ ( which has park benches designed so the homeless can sleep) can be seen at Cooper Hewitt National design Museum in New York .
Chicago’s Millennial Park has opened with a Frank Gehry designed pavilion and a jelly bean polished steel sculpture by Anish Kapoor.
When in London check out the new shop Atelier in Islington, full of an eclectic collection of ceramics, textiles, art craft and junk! www.atelierbypost.com.
The National Portrait Gallery in London has a new exhibition called “Off the Beaten Track” featuring women travelers over 3 centuries.
Oscar de la Renta is doing a line of furniture with Chatsworth, the seat of The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire who is one of the Mitford sisters and stella Tennants granny!
To inaugurate its new museum of photography in the Jeu de Paume, Paris is shining the spotlight on the erotically charged images of Guy Bourdin which includes everything from his ads for Charles Jourdan to Vogue pictures.WWD.
Check out the new Murano Urban Resort hotel in the Marais in Paris. www.muranoresort.com
To help celebrate Donald Duck’s 75th birthday, Karl Lagerfeld whipped up one of his famous illustrations depicting the character à la Lagerfeld, complete with high collar, ponytail and dark glasses perched on the beak WWD

http://www.yourmovies.com.au
If you are trying to find a movie to see this is so much easier than going through the paper (soo last century) and trying to work out what’s on. You just click on and select what ever cinemas you want to go to (and it will remember for next time) and then a list of movies will come up at all those cinemas. Click on your movie choice and voila! Also there’s a synopsis of the movie and a link to www.rottentomatoes.com my favourite movie website.!

http://www.minxknits.com
If you are pretending it is a bit cold (even if it’s not raining) you must check out this website that sells extra soft hand knits expertly spun and dyed in the northern NSW at the woollen mill in Nundle. I love the really cute hand knitted striped hottie covers for $45 but there are some great stripe sweaters and kids things too. Cool

Alex Von Furstenberg Miller is rumoured to have dumped Tim Jefferies .
Britney Spears is getting married in November to her dancer Kevin Federline, There’s talk she’s pregnant. Brit’s rep “I can definitely tell you today that Britney is not pregnant.”
Playboy Playmate Nicole Lenz has filed a $1 million suit against former party pals Bijou Phillips and Casey Johnson, accusing them of “slander, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
Stephen Marks, the founder of French Connection has given up majority control of the company by slashing his stake to just under 43 percent to finance a divorce settlement. The proceeds, 40 million pounds, is to meet “personal requirements.”(another day at the office? The fcuk marriage ripped at the seams).
The sixth Harry Potter book will be titled “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Mira Sorvino, 36, and actor Christopher Backus, 22, got married .
Gerard Depardieu was hospitalized after a scooter accident.
Naomi Campbell had to be rescued by police yesterday when a crowd of 4,000 men overwhelmed security guards as she filmed an ad on a beach in Sardinia.
The portrait of David Beckham has been defaced by vandals who broke into the Royal Academy. If only they were as good spellers as graffiti artists - intending to brand him a loser, they have scrawled “looser” instead. (daily star)
Christina Aguilera walked the runway for DSquared men’s spring 2005 show in Milan,stopping to pull down some of the models’ pants and even spanking one or two. ( cubed?)
Halle Berry says she regularly visits a Hollywood sex shop to buy herself presents at Pleasure Chest ( no excuses please).
Kate Moss’ new boyfriend Daniel Craig has landed a role in Spielberg’s new movie, alongside Troy star Eric Bana. The film will be about 72 Olympics.
Rod Stewart made a 20-mile round trip back toa top LA restaurant after he noticed on his bill that he was charged for a bottle of mineral water he hadn’t ordered. Rod wouldn’t leave until the $4 was re-credited to his credit card.
Diandra Douglas (ex-wife of Michael) has three month old twin boys by a surrogate. The babies are the subject of a fierce custody battle between Diandra and ex-boyfriend Zach Hampton Bacon III.

French Letters by Bruno Bouchet
Christine Mansfield says on the cover ” a deliciously ridiculous smorgasbord of cross cultural fantasy it could almost be real”. This is a wicked (we love wicked!) “ new comedy, an inspired send up of food fads, lavender scented, olive drizzled, and herb encrusted memoirs of Provence. Peter Noirelle thinks he has life sussed. A trend-spotter in New York, his work’s as easy as it gets. A nice home, a girlfriend who enjoys sex while she’s asleep! (worth reading just for that) But then a letter arrives from his father who he hasn’t seen in 25 years asking him to visit in the South of France where he heads with his brother and then becomes involved in a crazy culinary scam! My dream come true. $29.95

The Christmas list:
The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture
This is a big mama of a book apparently weighing 8 kilos but don’t try weighing it on your new kitchen scales you might kill them. The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture “ presents a global survey of the most outstanding works of contemporary architecture from around the world completed in the last five years. Organized geographically the book illustrates more than 1,000 completed buildings, and includes some of the most influential projects as well as many lesser-known buildings from around the world. Every building type, from the largest publicly-funded art museums and airports to private houses, is covered, and each project is illustrated with colour photographs, line drawings and a descriptive text.” And if you never read it you can at least use it instead of weights.

Economy:
Target: have 40% off their handbags. Ok it’s scary in there! Christian Dior rip off bags or not there are some great woven nylon big tote bags which could be good for food shopping (instead of plastic bags) for about $7 in red, black, blue and orange and they do have a great selection of string bags too for under $5. And I repeat the red patent heels are here for a ridiculous $29 (now with 20% off as well) also in black. There are kitten heel sling backs here in red and black $29. Speedos: are now open in the Bondi Junction and it’s a great place for basic black bikinis and one pieces, though there are a few things in colour, it’s a bit daggy. FCUK: A few new things are in like Aztec print 50’s skirt cute at $120, and a cap sleeve V neck t-shirt $49, chunky hand knit sweaters now $49 in lots of colours, and buy for the Christmas: a T shirt with reindeers mounting in silver $19! Mimco: is now open in Bondi junction: There are some cute leather sausage bags with extendable straps $249 and a handy slouch bag good for weekends in napa leather $349. Mollini: have some cool shoes for summer : sling back open toe in punched leather in aqua, white and red $128, Nine West: have a copy of a Coach bag (which was a Prada copy) a big tote with buckles $89 and lots of scary 80’s cone heels in bright colours on sale for about $59. Witchery : have some cool straight pencil skirts now $69 and heaps of shoes on sale.
Just Jeans now have Jelly Kelly bags for $24. Lucky I didn’t buy on e bay last year for US $300! Sportsgirl: have some new things in like a pretty pink mini top with silver sequins $149 and black shirts $89 ..Get ready shorts are going to be a big story for next summer.mmm just what you wanted to hear.So not going to wear them if born before 1985.There is a little bead black evening bag for $39 and copies of a Tods bag in cream for $39.

Business:
Top3bydesign, the groovy home wares store on the other side of the bridge is now going to open in Bondi Junction and my other favourite store Australian Geographic is opened here too. Georg Jensen has some gorgeous heavy clear glass small bowls in lots of chic colours: smokey green, blue, chocolate, red for $59. Karen Millen: is on sale 20 % off. Check out the gold sequin dress $500, a gold sequin top now $239, the classic work jackets now $439, a black satin jacket $319, some cool denim jackets and lots of black evening wear. Ralph Lauren is still on sale but I’m not seeing anything that grabs me but there is a chunky grey or cream weekend sweater $599. Bettina Liano is on sale: There is a cool black dress with a pink swirly waist $219, a yellow (scary) or black singlet $89, a black lace cami is not reduced but a great buy at $119 and a lot of boudoir things that would suit Miss Christina Aiguellera. Wayne Cooper is on sale- what a surprise- check out black drape, a red and silver lurex top now $99,a cute red satin skirt now $125 and a simple satin wrap dress now $140, a grey suede pencil skirt $195, and T shirts with writing $29. Allannah Hill: The best pieces are the sheer net dresses with sequin butterfly embroidery now $599 and the slip dresses with lace trim now $199, and there are some cool floral tops which is what you want for next summer. Marcs: mini marcs the kids label has 50% off. For humans you want the basic T shits in grey, white, black or blue now $29, the black peacoat is now $349 and a kneelength coat is now $299. Armani Exchange: has up to 50% off. Racks and racks of things: try the pedal pushers in cotton in black or khaki $130, straight panelled denim skirt $119, cotton pencil skirt $75, a cool jersey silk knit black top with shirred waist $79, lots of T shirts with Armani logos on the front. b>Zimmerman: still on sale check out their kids swimwear but new in are the batik style print dresses in cotton from $310. Max & Co: are still on sale the best buys are the black dresses now $390 or a simple one at $237, a brown tweed skirt with sequin hem is now $236, and a cool grey and black stripe top $100 and the polo neck version cool at $150 and a grey wool melton knee length coat $660. Nicola Finetti Everything in store is now on sale! Leather is 20% off, Eveningwear is 20$ off! Footwear is 20% off, Jjersey is 30% off Knits 20% - 50% off!

First:
Escada Sport:
They have the new autumn winter collection in which is a looking a bit pastel pink and blue but there are cool pieces like the groovy grey mini kilt $600, and a white chunky poloneck $450. Evelyn Miles; is on sale. There is a lot of old Sergio Rossi for 50% off which are not tickling my fancy except the black pointy heels now $598, and some Michel Perry suede patchwork that I love in pink with a square toe now $550. There some new summer YSL mules are in with a wooden heel $598 in blue or brown, some fabulous mules with multi colour straps $600, or Kitten heel mules with a thick YVES strap in white,orange or brown $598. Max Mara: is on sale and I love this shop for classic great quality everything. You want the leather jacket now $1840, the black A lline wool skirt now $330, the coats galore in wool melton from $1250 in camel or black. Check out the black beautiful stretchy singlets for $154, the black pencil skirt with side pockets now $190 and a balck A line one for $320.Yes there is a lot of black but that’s winter for you. You want the fab cream or black trench coat belted now $990 and the cool black jacket with leather trim now $1170, the nylon black shirt jacket now $747 and the black rib chunky knit $230 and the sleeveless cable knit $270.There are gorgeous polo necks for $220, black knit bolero shrug now $480 and the sunglasses are really cool and now $250. Get in ther now..

Quick de la Quick 5 minute Ricotta Gnocchi
(originally from Marque in Surry Hills and Good Living)
I’ve decided to name my cookbook ‘The Lazy Girls guide to Cookery’. I love eating, I love serving the food, I love basking in the glory and adulation of my fans. But the cooking ? That can take too long! So don’t be scared by homemade gnocchi, this is too, too easy, embarrassingly easy to cook. In fact it is the quickest meal ever known to mankind and is easier do than opening a packet of pasta with your teeth and about 100 times molto delicious. (and takes less time to cook then reading this babble)
Here’s the quick version

·Mix ricotta, flour, olive oil and an egg with a fork
·Boil water
·Drop mixture in water
·Eat!

(If that’s too hard and you can’t boil water don’t read any further)
Remember it takes 5 minutes so be ready to eat. No running away thinking you can do hair and makeup for hours on end. All pre production must be attended to beforehand so you’re ready to eat pronto…

You need for 4:

500 g fresh ricotta
50g plain flour
2 eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
pinch salt and poivre

·Whizz in a whizzer all the above ingredients or use a fork. It will take 2 seconds.
·Boil water.
·Take 1 teaspoon of Gnocchi straight from the whizzer or the bowl you mixed it in and with another teaspoon scrape the mixture into the boiling water.
·The gnocchi will float to the top when it’s cooked
·Ne paniquez pas, it will look terrible! Seriously lumpy and you’ll look at it and say what the F***
·Keep Calm
·Pour a wine
·After about 5 mins it should have all floated to the top.
·Get a slotted spoon and just carefully skim the gnocchi out of boiling water onto a warm plate.

Serve with a tomato sauce, (see below), olive oil drizzled on the top and some parmesan and lots of sea salt and poivre and crusty bread…Delicioso

Quick de la quick tomato sauce:

·Cut up a 4 or more tomatoes
·Melt a few anchovies in the fry pan with some oil, add the tomatoes, some garlic, some dried chilies if you like.
·Chuck in a hand full of herbs: basil, parsley, or chives, lemon thyme, whatever you have
·Cook on medium heat just till the tomato has warmed through, say about 2 minutes
·Sprinkle over Gnocchi
·Bask in the glory of your adoring fans!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban
I’ve only seen the first Harry Potter movie and I haven’t read any of the books but the first thing that struck me watching this movie was the supernatural eye brows on Harry. What’s going on there? Who decided to pluck them? I mean they are a lovely shape but hello not on our Harry. Probably the gay makeup artiste on set who couldn’t help himself . Hate to think what he’ll be like in the next one probably have blonde highlights and a pierced something. But sorry onto the movie. In this latest installment Gary Oldman plays a dangerous wizard Sirius Black who has escaped Azkaban prison and is searching for Harry to try and kill him. Harry is told that Black was responsible for the Harry parent’s death. Ooh scary stuff. And then there are The Dementors brought in to protect Hogwarts. No, not a boy band but really creepy ghosts who suck the soul from victims. Crickey.Well we all have dementors we need to fight off ( my Amex bill! My wrinkles!) with positive thoughts (New Manolos! Crème de la Mer!) which is what Harry learns to do (He’s starting with the eybrows). Every one says this movie is the best one yet and the director Alfonso Cuarón who did “Y tu mamá también.” has really made a fantastic movie. The wardrobe, the acting, the art direction and the sets are absolutely amazing. But ooh so much scarier than the movie last week, I think it could be renamed Dirty Pretty Things 2…

US Vogue July: Has the lovely Kirsten Dunst on the cover and an interview with her and a separate one with her beau, spunky Jake Glyllenhaal. There is a fascinating story on the artist/producer Yvonne Force Villereal, the first shoot by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue since the 90’s on minimalism and read about the new look for fashion : Propriety values, its all about being demure!
Harpers Bazaar July: Has the lovely Ashley Judd on the cover but it is a thin issue as July issues often are.Why do they insist on doing diet stories I cannot tell you; if you want that crap read Cleo. Bu there is an interesting piece on the artist Damien Loeb ( ex fiancé of Bergdorf Blonde Voguette Plum Sykes) with his model wife in his loft in New York ” the New York smoking ban makes us reluctant to go out” and hello why is there a story of the shocking 80’s leftover ( and gasp republican fundraiser!) 3 times married Georgette Mosbacher ?
Metropolitan Home July: Has the insiders guide to Amsterdam if you going, or check out the groovy house of month in Dallas -no one famous- but very cool. Read about the loft done by Vicente Wolf or the funky house in Santa Fe.A great issue.