Black and White and Red All Over

Last cheated BOTD (for a while) I promise!
And last BOTD about Queen of the Nile. I know you’re over the personal and would much rather me harp on about some badass fashion and flashy press releases about Rihanna collaborating with Chomp bars (OMG imagine?!?)

But as we wait for the reviews, who better to entertain us than Red Hot Reviews™ Barbie® …

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Yes that is her name. I love the trademarking! Google her! How amazing is her coat? And dress? And bag?
She’s totes fierce and is smizing away praying for good reviews. Familiar much?

Wear Sunscreen

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Now I know what you’re thinking. Who in their right mind gets their flight details wrong by two days? Two days! We’re bonkers. Check out yesterday’s post for more…
I have missed some flights in my time, but never (almost) turned up two days early. That would just be silly.
The downside-aside from confusing the hotel staff and checking in for two more nights instead of checking out, saying all our goodbyes and doing all our packing is the things we were supposed to be doing today and tomorrow.
It was supposed to be full steam ahead with London living. We had a book launch tonight. Two in fact. A dinner tomorrow. Meetings meetings meetings.
I was supposed to have my hair done (a month in the sun and in the pool has taken its toll) and I was going to go coat shopping for snow walks.
On the plus side, of course, is the fact that we get two more days. Two days! Naughty, stolen days. Time to squeeze in an extra boat ride. Another temple… Or much more likely, to do just one final bit of tanning.
I never thought of myself as a sun worshipper really. When I was, ahem, younger, my tan came out of a bottle. Throughout most of my early twenties I was fluorescent. You could see me and Donatella from space. The St Tropez years with that distinct smell and patchy ankles, followed by a shockingly cheap alternative in Paris which turned the sheets chocolatey and frightened the firemen who worked over the road and could see into my bedroom-lucky them.
After a pale and interesting phase, I swapped the grey of Glasgow for a much more Mediterranean glow. Living in the South of France may have left me culture poor but I’ve got a rocking tan. A real one. A natural one. Aside from a bit of competitive tanning for a wedding, I don’t try to tan. But I’m outside all the time. Wearing as little as possible (if I can).
And I do wear sunscreen. A bit. Most days. But not every day. Which is bad.
When a friend came to visit and asked for some protection (!) I offered her everything from factor 6 right through to factor zero which I guess is just butter.
But I think tans are back. I’m judging this entirely on the fact I will be returning to London with one and that my (old) pal Ms Versace has gone for a super tan look for the Spring/Summer 2013 campaign…
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Okay so it’s almost alien tan but whatevs. These images are going straight onto my Pinterest tanning mood board. (Note to self. Start bloody using bloody Pinterest).
But in reality I don’t want to be that weird blue tan. Much. So my big new year’s resolution was to wear sunscreen. All the time! Under my clothes. In bed. In Tesco. Just in case. And I have been wearing factor 30 every day in Egypt…. On my face at least.
So maybe in these two extra days I will wear it all over which will totally undo all the gorgeous damage I’ve done to my skin. The damage that makes me look healthier. Feel healthier. Feel slimmer. Feel fabulicious.

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Welcome to 2013

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Doing New Year in style.
The resolutions will have to wait.
Today is a day of rest. And if you’re as smart as us you will be doing it poolside.
Yes of course that’s a bottle of water, though we may have to order a Bloody Mary later on.
And yes, the flash has made Barbie’s bikini a little see through. But when you read our resolutions you will realise that this year is only going to get sexier.

Strictly Bananas

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With the Strictly Come Dancing final tonight I thought I’d go all out on the glamour front.
Festive. Frilly. Fantastical.

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How could Louis possibly refuse me in such a fabulous outfit? Ah Louis…

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And then she turns up.

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Nope, not the adorable Flavia. Though they look remarkably similar.

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Nope this “tutti fruitti beauty” is set to storm the dancefloor in her super sexy ensemble. Her name is Brazilian Banana Bonanza™ Barbie® and she was designed by Bob Mackie (yes that BobMackie! As in Cher!). Currently available at Barbie Collector her calling card claims that she’s a glamazon from the Amazon, a Latin bombshell as hot and steamy as Rio.
I bet!
But can she do the running man?
Or the robot?
And can she fit that headgear into a polling booth to vote here in Egypt on the referendum (knew I could jam that in somehow)?
Well let me tell you something, missy. Here’s some advice. From me. To you.
Keep your hands off Louis’ banana!
Nobody puts Barbie in the corner!

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Welcome Back

Guess who…

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Yes, the dolls are back on their annual sunshiny, Christmassy break to the land of the pharaohs.
It wouldn’t be Christmas if we weren’t in Egypt, so we ignored what it says in the papers and hopped in the dollicopter to Luxor.
But what to wear for a traditional Muslim Christmas welcome? (!!!)

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Nothing says “I heart a revolution” quite like a red leather mini skirt. And checkout that white mani! Bang on trend!
Okay okay so we might find something a little more appropes for the referendum on Saturday (Or something really classy-like white leather! -a Barbie of the Day fridge magnet to anyone who can name that movie).
… Anyway. I’m online (for now) so I’ll try and keep up with the posts and tweets.
Get used to this view from my balcony. It’s quite possibly our new BOTD studio.

Rx

London Loving

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Inspired by the Spice Girls video for 2 Become 1, tonight. Until I just watched the video again, I had falsely remembered that it was set in London. I suddenly remembered the ice skating and thought, hang on, obviously that wasn’t Somerset House…
Anyway…. London feels very festive and I’m full of Christmas magic…
But it wouldn’t be BOTD if we didn’t have a sunny Christmas.
See you in the desert, doll lovers.
Rx
Are you as good as I remember baby, get it on, get it on
‘Cause tonight is the night when two become one

Packing (part 1)

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So in case you didn’t get the memo. I’m heading to Londontown.
It’s winter all of a sudden here at BOTD Towers which means it’s time to pack our bags and head off on a winter trip.
Last year I did the BOTD USA Tour (mine and the dolls first time) and the dolls spent their second Christmas (my third.. Or was it fourth?) in Egypt.
Anyway. Egypt is on the cards again. Nothing says Christmas Day quite like going to the gym then lounging by the pool all day and popping out for a shish tawouk in the evening, if you know what I mean.
But first! London Baby. Time to check into the BOTD London office, hit up some Xmas parties and maybe look for a little work in January. Network network network, darlings!
As you know the dolls are used to wearing very little here on the Riviera, but as we discovered in Berlin last week, sometimes a little cover up is necessary. Everyone on Twitter is telling me how chilly it is. But with bikinis to pack for Egypt, bling to pack for festive parties and potential fashiony interview outfits to consider for January, our travel wardrobe is looking a little crazy…

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Imagine squeezing all those boxes into that tiny wheely case!