GAME OF THRONES

Can you believe that vicious dragon is merely a tennis ball (so actors have a physical reference) and a green screen? (So the visual effects guys can work their magic?) Wow. Just wow!

You guys, let me preface this by confessing my trials and tribulations vis a vis this blog! Regular updates will keeping down an 8 to 5 are proving harder than I ever imagined! I kid you not, I have folders upon folders upon folders (imagine some inception shit here but in computer form) on my mac of lots of things I want to blog about but do i ever get the time???

I thought getting my new cammy would make this easier but colour me disillusioned! Xuma and Eliza have nothing on me!

Anyway, moving on to Game of Thrones which is my latest great obsession. I haven't felt this fully immersed in a fantasy world since Harry Potter! Eragon came close before the movie killed it for me. But GoT? I devour any and all titbits of Westeros and co. that cross my path!

Dany with her tennis ball and stick (above), Dany with her Dragon(ish) (below). Bare in mind they animators had no actual flying dragons to base their designs on and just studied a couple of pre-existing creatures whose characteristics were combined to give a realistic looking fantastical beast.

After all 3 seasons I figured why wait for the next when there are the books to catch up on? A wiser decision I've never made cuz the books are like 10 times funner that the show! I could go on and on and on but this post is about the great work the show guys are doing with George R.R. Martin's creation.

The biggest influences for the flight of the dragons were eagles and bats. The former for their soaring motions and the latter for the take-off and hovering.

I can't be the only one that thinks actors that work with green screens do way more work than those that do say topical comedy that relies on fat suits and fart jokes *ahem Tyler Perry, ahem*. So Daenearys's dragons are a particular point of interest to me. When I came across these details of how they bring them to life with CGI and tennis balls and green screens I just had to share! No folder for these guys!

Puppeteers are also used for the actors' interactions with non-existent dragons. Pixomondo builds details step by step, early frames featuring the dragons look cartoonish (pic above), the same CGI attention to detail is used in scenes with a massive setting and huge crowds like the wrap up of season 3 when khaleesi was lifted up by the freed slaves.

Water simulations and digital wind tunnels were also taken into account on how they affect the aerodynamics. Nothing was left to chance! If only the Sharknado producers brought in even one of these guys on their team!!!

westeros.org did an interview with the VFX producer Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor which you can read in its entirety here and/or watch wired magazine's behind the scenes video of the wind tunnel simulation and how it all comes together here (I failed to embed it in the post.) If you're anything like me you're obviously going to do both and you'll be all the happier for it!

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JANE FONDA Everyone *drumroll*

When I grow up, I wanna be Jane Fonda. No, seriously. Who else can make 75 look this good? I mean Goop is trying but until she's there we'll never really know, right?

In L'Oreal's campaign for its new line of nude lipsticks, Jane Fonda outsmized professional smizers over 30 years younger  like VS Angel Doutzen Kroes, 28 and supermodel Liya Kebede, 35 alongside others like Frida Pinto, Julianne Moore, Fan BingBing and Eva Longoria.

Now do you get where I'm coming from? I'd have her as Monster-In-Law any day if it meant learning graceful ageing secrets from her.

I'm not big on the nude lipstick trend being a classic red lip girl myself but this new Color Riche Collection Privée by L’Oréal Paris just might persuade me! Especially as the range of perfect nude shades of lipstick comes with matching nail polish!

Created in collaboration with their 'spokesmodels', the lip colour shades are custom-made in six versatile shades to suit almost every skin tone/ethnicity and each lipstick features the spokesmodel's own signatures.

Rosewood Beige

This sensual and delicate rose pink shade Enhances the radiance of pale complexions and evokes elegance and sophistication.

Ebony Elegance

A subtle hint of brown, perfectly suited to dark skin, adds a contrast of colour for a barely-there, natural nude finish.

Mauve Tint

This lavender shade is perfect for emphasising the delicacy and elegance of the caramel toned complexion and delivers a freshness
with sheer sophistication.

Greige Glow

Ultra-chic and iridescent, this nude shade compliments the honey complexion, enhancing its natural beauty.

Peach Skin

Best paired with a golden complexion and dark hair, the gold hue will capture the natural radiance of matte skin and perfect the complexion.

Hint Of Pink 

This barely pink nuance is perfect for blondes with a fair complexion. The combination of freshness and femininity gives indispensable elegance.

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BIRTHDAY 2013!

This is more of a book mark post actually because I think my celebrating is still going on and on seeing as some of my bestest best buds were too busy with their careers to turn up! So will update as the shenanigans go down!

Birthdays are the perfect excuse for me to be even more self indulgent than usual. I had two outfit changes, the pink and black mid calf sheath for the evening dinners and changed into thigh skimming blue and black lace with tights for later that night. 

As a devout worshipper at the altar of ANTM, I have discovered the 3/4 pose is my best angle! Slight downward head tilt, eyes cast coyly upwards, megawatt smile!

Started off the day taking a bookshelfie with my new cammy. Apparently all the cool book nerds are doing it. There's even a whole tumblr dedicated to bookshelfies so I'm off to submit this one soon as I finish this blog post.

Lounged in bed a bit reading Princess Diana - A pictorial tribute and painting my nails, as every wannabe princess does, before getting ready for the first of my dinners. No apologies for the messiness, I was off that day.

Snapped a pic of my new baby's package the second I unwrapped it! And set the date function while at it (as if there was any chance I'd forget how and when we first met!)

I have no idea what was happening in this pic! It was towards the end of the night...I had 3 dinners inside of me and had imbibed a questionable variety of cocktails with each!

By this point I just wanted my bed... fun night it was, it had to end!

Good thing Friday was right round the corner and everyone had no excuse not to come out! But this is a post for another day! And come 31st we hit the beach! I told you I love August!

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