keris stainton

Baby Daddy

2008-10-10T12:29:53+01:00

Stella's comment on my previous post - "Why isn't David Mitchell on television all day, every day?" - reminded me of something else I wanted to write about.

Because in this house, he kind of is. I can't remember if I mentioned that, a few weeks ago, I had a dream about David Mitchell and, of course, it spiralled into one of those obsessive crushes, as dreams so often do.

So since then I've watched, on YouTube, practically everything he's ever done: Would I Lie to You, Mock the Week, HIGNFY, QI, plus all manner of random clips.

Now - and bear with me - when I was pregnant with Harry, David (my David, not David Mitchell) used to read a story to my tummy every night. This pregnancy, he hasn't done (poor second-class second child) and so, just the other day, I was joking that Baby Joe will think David Mitchell is his father, since he's heard his voice much more often than his "real" father's.

Last night, we settled down to watch the Blackadder documentary on G.O.L.D and, low and behold, the voiceover was David Mitchell. And the baby went wild. Every time he spoke. Genuinely. He'd be all relaxed during the Blackadder bits, the second the voiceover kicked in, Joe kicked off. It was highly entertaining. (At least I thought so; David - not so much.) (*My* David, that is; who knows what David Mitchell thinks of it.)

37 years and I never knew...

2008-10-10T10:51:55+01:00

Recently I bought a new toothbrush. It's pink. It vibrates. It has little "massaging" nodules on the back for cleaning your tongue. You knew you had to clean your tongue, right?

But what about the inside of your cheeks? Hadn't thought about them, had you? Well, when you're cleaning your back teeth with this toothbrush, the nodules are vibrating against the inside of your cheeks. I imagine, when Colgate first designed this toothbrush, they thought this might be a problem. But then, in a "so chocolately it even turns the milk brown" moment of genius, they decided to turn it into a selling point.

Did you know that the majority of the bacteria in your mouth *isn't* on your teeth? No, turns out, all these years, we've all been walking round with filthy cheeks! Filthy. The shame...

And then, last night, we watched a repeat of Mitchell and Webb and there was this. Fab.

Amy K: Making Life Lovely

2008-10-09T11:42:22+01:00

Read my latest post for Carrie and Danielle and watch The Beckoning of Lovely, a short film by the wonderful, Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

It'll warm your cockles, honest.

Monkeying around

2008-10-09T11:09:20+01:00

One of the favourite poems I studied at university was also (funnily enough) the shortest:

Mrs Darwin by Carol Ann Duffy

7 April, 1872
Went to the Zoo.
I said to Him --
Something about that Chimpanzee over there reminds me of you.

You'd be amazed at how often that goes through my head.

Or maybe you wouldn't... (have you met Mr Stainton?)

This picture...

2008-10-08T12:00:47+01:00

... also gives me a funny feeling. In a different way.

I'm not loving the 'tache, but the sweaty t-shirt and the six pack. (Six pack!) And that smile.

Oh my.

[via PopSugar]

This picture...

2008-10-08T11:45:34+01:00

... gives me a funny feeling. It makes me yearn.

If I could sit at that table, look at that view, in that light... I might actually get my book written. Or perhaps not.

Oh poo

2008-10-08T11:41:30+01:00

Those of you who look back fondly on last December's blocked toilet incident will no doubt be excited to know we might be in for a repeat performance.

If it's not one thing...

[Just thought I should mention that it's not *our* fault, these loo problems, it's a plumbing issue. Honest.]

Yes, it's a meme

2008-10-07T11:16:26+01:00

I pinched this meme from Ms Mac, who did it aaages ago. It's about fashion and beauty, which I know next to nothing about ... but I'm trying.

Foundation: I don't wear foundation. I'm lucky to have good skin (thanks, Mum), but also it tends to cake in my glasses, which is so not a good luck. I sometimes use Dr Hauschka tinted moisturiser and, if I'm feeling particularly feeble, Dr Feelgood by Benefit, which makes me look practically soft focus.

Mascara: I don't wear mascara every day. Since I generally only go to preschool and back, I don't wear much make-up at all - but if I'm feeling frumpy or plain, mascara is essential. I've used Rimmel's Curly, but I don't think they do it anymore and I've currently got a Maybelline one that I like (I bought it for the bright lime green packaging, but it seems to work quite well as well).

Day Cream: I've used a Boots Botanics one for a while, but I recently bought the Body Shop's Vitamin C one and my skin feels quite lovely.

Essential Beauty Product: Make-up wise it's eyebrow pencil. Years ago I was in a department store, caught sight of myself in the mirror and could barely see my features. So I closed my eyes, opened them again and the first thing I thought was "No eyebrows!" and I've been wearing eyebrow pencil ever since. I use Fling by Mac and it is fantastic. Perfect colour and it stays on.

Hair-wise it's Aussie Anti-frizz leave-in conditioner. It's the best thing I've found for my fine, but curly hair.

Favourite Makeup Product: My favourite products are products I don't use, but wish I could! Years ago I was in love with a lipstick called, I think, Big Apple. Possibly by Revlon, it was a thick crayon and I loved the colour, but it wouldn't stay on. I also love Toast of New York lipstick and nail varnish (again, I think by Revlon), but I can't apply nail varnish (well, not on my right hand, at least) and the lipstick doesn't last so I don't bother with either.

Perfume: I am constantly looking for my "signature" scent, but I haven't found it yet. My sister bought me Daisy by Marc Jacobs for my birthday, but (not unreasonably) it's floral and I'm more fruity/herby. I do like it, but I couldn't wear it every day.

I love the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria range, especially Herba Fresca and also the crazylibellule and the poppies range (I think I had ginger and coconut last time). I've got high hopes that I'll find my "me" perfume in the Bond No. 9 range, but they're currently out of my price range so we'll have to wait and see.

I just want to mention aftershave, as well. David's never worn it, but a certain set of twins I used to follow around the country were aftershave mad and, thanks to the singing twin, I fell in love with Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme. Go to a department store. Smell it. Swoon. Have a sit down.

Nails: Hopeless. They all grow at different speeds. One doesn't grow past the end of my finger after it fell out following my finger being slammed in the door (on the eve of Charles & Di's wedding). They grow. The break. I nibble the rough edges. And so it goes.

Hands: Every now and then I think I need to look after my hands and I buy some hand cream, apply it every night for - ooh - two or three nights and then it lingers on my dressing table until, months later, I throw it away.

Feet: I love my feet, although I think I might be getting a bunion and the second toe on my left foot bends by itself (I broke it when I was about 10 - my parents thought I was exaggerating and, by the time they realised I wasn't, it was too late for my poor toe). I probably apply nail varnish once or twice a year and then it grows out.

Three Products to bring on a deserted island: I'd definitely need a factor 50 suncream (I'm blue-white) and a lip balm. Apart from that, I probably wouldn't bother with anything. Oh, toothpaste.

Women I admire for their beauty: I've always thought Felicity Kendall was beautiful, but on the Sky+ ads, her face looks like it's on a bit tight. Since I've been watching loads of Friends reruns, I'm constantly struck by how beautiful Courteney Cox is - particularly in the ones when she was dating Pete and wearing liquid eyeliner and red lippy. Alexis Bledel has grown up very beautiful and I love America Ferrera's face too.

Women with the Best Sense of Style: Jennifer Aniston always springs immediately to mind - she always looks effortlessly fabulous, I think. (In Friends and in real life.) And I do love to look at Sarah Jessica Parker, even though she doesn't always get it right.

My Ultimate Dream: Stella's answer was, "To one day look at myself in the mirror and be content with what I see" and I'm nicking it. Sad, isn't it.

How Do I Define Womanhood: Oh, that's a tough one. Spirit. Tenacity. And even though I've known a few humourless women in my time, I'd have to say humour.

Favourite Fashion Publication: I never, ever buy fashion magazines. I'm always happy when the Great Plains catalogue drops through the door, although there's very little point in looking at any clothes at the mo'.

Big (and small) birds

2008-10-06T15:04:16+01:00

I'm sorry to keep going on about The West Wing since I know that season five is incredibly old news for most of you, but I just read about this scene featuring two big birds - Big Bird and CJ (Allison Janney) - and had to look it up.

Now the Big Bird scene is kind of cute (I love Big Bird), but the most hilarious thing to me is the scene immediately after, featuring Kristen Chenoweth and Allison Janney. Look at the height difference! I'm the same height as Kristen Chenoweth (4'11"). I must never meet Allison Janney. Awesome as she is.

Ooh! Ooh!

2008-10-06T13:39:58+01:00

A spin-off!

A Jack and Karen spin-off!

Apparently. (It's going to be called Karen + Jack. Imaginative.)

I am excited. You?

[via Dollymix]