(Slightly Crazy) Feminist Rant #1: Apparently Women Can't Have A Sense Of Humour!

Hello, pretty people!
So, a while ago, I hated the label 'feminist'.
When I thought of feminists, I thought of half-dressed women violently protesting in the streets, bra-burning all that kind of stuff. But then I realised the term 'feminist' just meant one thing: wanting equal rights for women. There are plenty of men out there (my idiot teen-aged brother included) who say they hate feminists, only because they haven't made the effort to research the simple definition, which I find just makes them ignorant.
That being said, there have been three issues throughout the next few posts that have been bothering me. My first one to address is

Wippa's comment stating that women being funny is 'unladylike'.

On the 9th of April (which is a month ago now, but it still pisses me off enough to write about it now) Michael "Wippa" Wipfli, of the popular Australian radio show "Fitzy and Wippa" stated that, and I quote, "If you find the girl who's the loud, funny one in the pub, guys aren't into you. Not very ladylike. Don't be funny around guys" (I actually researched the situation and found the quote at www.mamamia.com.au). Ryan "Fitzy" Fitzgerald actually tried to shut him down.

I, myself, wouldn't say I'm funny, but I do have a cheeky sense of humour, and I can be a little on the louder side, after a drink or two. I also love a good discussion with a man, particularly when it comes to pop culture.

I also wouldn't call myself a dating expert, as I am currently single, but I did find on three different sites that most men do find a woman with a sense of humour attractive:

7 TOP QUALITIES MEN FIND ATTRACTIVE IN WOMEN:
1. Great personality (getting warmer...)
2. Good sense of humour (BAM!)
3, Reliability
4. Good listener
5. Be un-materialistic
6. Capabilities and independence
7. Physical appearance

and this other one was from a forum

DO MEN FIND INTELLIGENT AND FUNNY WOMEN ATTRACTIVE?
This was a public forum question, that gained around 30 responses. Most of them said 'yes'. My favourite answer? "Some men feel threatened by a funny and intelligent woman, but they belong in the 50's."
He also goes on to say that he has been laughed into bed in the past.

5 REASONS WHY FUNNY WOMEN ARE SEXY
1. It's disarming (being put off your game is a huge turn on. I guess it's like having a 'see what I did there?' moment.
2. Down for whatever (may not mean sexually, it just may mean they might be more adventurous)
3. Laughter mimics sex (if you're laughing hard, you often get flushed, breaths are more shallow and you lose control of your body - in a good way. From here, I'll just leave this to the imagination)
4. Banter (it makes someone want to have a conversation with you)
5. More comfortable (I guess it's easy to get along with someone who has a similar sense of humour to you)

My verdict: Women with a sense of humour can be attractive. Bite me, Wippa.

Album Review: "A Musical Heart" by Patrice Tipoki

Whaddup, pretty people!
Sssoooo, I was super excited when Patrice Tipoki's debut album "A Musical Heart" was released. It was actually the first thing I've ever pre-ordered because that's how flipping excited I was for the album to be released.

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMNET INTENDED.
TAKEN FROM THE iTUNES PAGE.

And she did not disappoint.

Here, I'm going to do a brief track-by-track summary:

1. "Shall We Dance?" from "The King And I"
Because why not start an album off with a song with one of the most successful songwriting duos in musical theatre songwriting history, Boubl.... (I know what you were thinking. That comes later.)
It's Rogers and Hammerstein. 
I actually remember "The King And I" as being one of the first musical films I ever saw and I honestly only remember parts of it. The community theatre group (the Irish call it the AmDram,
being amateur drama. So from now on, it'll be AmDram to me.) group I'm a part of did it in 2005 (eight years before I joined) and all I can say now, is that Patrice's cover has made me want to revisit the film. Or see the stage show. Or whatever I can get these chubby hands of mine on.

2. "I Dreamed A Dream" from "Les Misérables"
Here's the Boublil and Schönburg I promised.
It would probably be a dick move not to cover "I Dreamed A Dream" on one's debut album whilst being the CURRENT Fantine, now, wouldn't it?
When I saw the show on the 2nd of August last year,  (I'm really good with dates. It freaks people out. It freaks ME out.) Patrice did this GOOOOOORGEOUSLY. And this version is even better. Probably because you can do takes when you're recording an album (not that Patrice needed the extra work but the option's great for perfectionists, isn't it?)
I have no words on how much I love it. And I'm glad it was kept fairly traditional.

3. "Defying Gravity" from "Wicked"
Bit of a belt? Don't mind if I do. And like "I Dreamed A Dream", I am so pleased this was kept fairly traditional. But some of those lovely notes.....

Holy shit.

4. "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from "The Lion King" 

The best way to Little Ti's heart? A Disney cover. 

I have no words. Just gorgeous. But I LOVE the African vibe. Sah pretteh.

Even though the song is traditionally a ballad, this is a great twist. 

5. "Anyone Can Whistle"

I'm not going to lie. I'm not exactly familiar with the show, "Anyone Can Whistle". But I loved the Patrice's version of the song. Get back to me when I've heard a bit more about the show ;)

6. "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers

A soppy love ballad? Tick.

A beautifully-voiced co-star to duet with? Tick. 

Patrice's "Les Misérables" co-star, Simon Gleeson (Jean Valjean) duets with her on this track sickeningly beautifully. Does that make sense? Does now.

And again, keeping it traditional. I like traditional.

7. "Tonight" from "West Side Story"

This is getting a bit repetitive, isn't I don't have a lot of words to describe my love for this album.
Now, I've never really gotten into "West Side Story", but this is wonderful. I don't mind somebody who can not only belt (referencing back to "Defying Gravity", but uses their head voice beautifully. Not a lot of people can do that. It's often one or the other. Even with trained theatre actresses. But this, again, was GOOOOORGEOUUSSSSS.

8. "Somebody To Love" by Queen

I'm a little sick of using the word 'traditional', but this was kept on the traditional side, with a bit of a gospel vibe. And I love it. The acapella "Find me somebody to love" part was kept in. Wait, of course it was kept in. This is a Queen song. 

And Queen is classic.

Because rock ballads are life.

9. "I'm Not Afraid Of Anything" by Jason Robert Brown

This, like "Anyone Can Whistle", I wasn't particularly familiar with, but it's well-done, and like many Jason Robert Brown songs, it tells a convincing story. And Patrice tells that story beautifully.

10. "Beauty And The Beast"

I'm not going to lie. I must've been hormonal when I heard this, because I cried. 

This is one of my favourite Disney songs... and... excuse me, I *sobs* need a moment.
I literally have no words to describe the perfection that is this track. A FAN-FLIPPING-TASTIC WAY TO END AN ALBUM!

I said this was going to be brief. 

I lied.
Sorry.
Sort of. 

Anywho, I'm out.

Have a wonderful day (it's actually night here, but you know the sentiment) and stay classy, kids!

Tiarna Ellen 

xx

Introductory Post: Review on Australis' Velourlips Matte Lip Creams

Hello, pretty people!
So, I thought as an introductory post, I thought I'd do one of my favourite things: review a makeup product.

So this, ladies and gentlemen (but mainly ladies), is Australis' Velourlips Matte Lip Cream. Two of them in fact, of the extensive range of 15 shades, all with city names spelled in a alternative way, I guess in a more phonetic way, such as "DOO-BAI", "PAR-EE", "MI-A-MI", "RIO-D" and "LUN-DUN", but here, we have "NY-CEE" and "MAL-I-BOO". 

 

The red colour is "NY-CEE" and the pink is "MAL-I-BOO"

I sincerely do apologise for the less-than-flattering photos. It's 8am. On a Monday. On my day off. Pre-coffee.

Trying on "NY-CEE"

Trying on "MAL-I-BOO", a shade I'm not too fond of, but with my blonde hair, maybe I should try a pre-lipo Barbie SFX look ;)

I can't even tell you how great the quality is! Last Tuesday, I put it on at 7am and this is how it looked at 5pm, no reapplications, and loads of junk food that day. That is like, 10 hours of lipstick awesome!

Yes, there's just the outline, but TEN HOURS, COME ON!

The texture going on is super creamy, but it dries without going flaky. And for those who are concerned, the product is vegan-friendly!

The Lip Creams are $9.95 each and I think that is money well spent!

Have a wonderful day, and stay classy, kids!

Tiarna Ellen

xx