SEE: First Look: The Great Gatsby

Credit: The Great Gatsby

My fascination with other eras has reared its head, and the twenties is one of my favorites with its lushness, freedom and super cool fashion sense. This Christmas 2012, The Great Gatsby will be coming to big screen again.  About twenty years ago, uber-handsome Robert Redford starred in an iconic edition, and this appears to be an equally lush and captivating visual spectacle that I can't wait to enjoy. 
Steamy, dreamy Leonardo DiCaprio, of Titantic and Inception fame, and the darling Carey Mulligan of The Education bring to life the story based on the 1925 text of the same name. For the unfamiliar, without devulging spoilers, The Great Gatsby tells the sweepingly passionate tale of Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan, set against the decadent backdrop of the roaring 20s, tangled with hefty doses of seduction, curiosity, wealth, fame and the dark roads that lead to tragedy and obession.

It's going to be epic, in the words of my brother and quite frankly that's just fantastic.

Here is the trailer, which I've watched around half-a-dozen times:

Notice the music, the scene and the costumery.  Ooh, I love it, bring on the sparkles, lavish embellishment and champagne.

To READ the classic, before the movie comes out, click here

TASTE: Talenti Gelato

Do you know that feeling when a taste calls to mind a memory?  When an external trigger evokes all the pleasures and sensory experiences of a time, place and moment?   That's the experience I had when I tasted my first bite of Dallas crafted Tahitian Vanilla Talenti Gelato, which I found at my Kroger's here in Mesquite.  As it melted, I was swiftly transported to a tiny gelato shop in Venice with the happy sounds of conversation flitting through the air and me still on high from being in a new place.  A delicious feeling to be sure..

Here's the scoop:

LOVES:
Fresh, clean flavor.  Smooth, creamy decadence. Pleasantly sweet and faintly floral, like I had taken a knife and split open a vanilla bean, and in two words, absolutely delicious.  

I love that Talenti uses simple, descriptive names with beautifully transparent packaging and a twist-on lid in a wonderful chocolate brown.  A luxe sensory enthusiast, I was delighted to see the modern packaging with a lightly bespoke feel similar to that of the lovely, little cream boxes with black trim that Jo Malone products come in. 

NOT SO LOVES:
Containers contain only 1 pint of the creamy goodness.  By time, I put a scoop in a cone for the two short people, there's only a bit left for me. Also, my local Krogers only carries a handful flavors, hopefully to be remedied soon as the next flavors on taste list are the Toasted Almond, Blood Orange and the Sea Salt Caramel. 

FIND IT:
I found my tub at Kroger's, but I did see it at Tom Thumb, Target and Albertson's, as well.

Online at http://www.talentigelato.com/

PRICE POINT:
$ (less than $10)

SEE: Aida: The Opera Comes to Dallas

The other night, my sister and I took in the opening night of Green Day's "American Idiot" (see my post at Miss A for details).  If you haven't seen it and are a fan of the musical arts and/or Green Day, you would do yourself a dissservice by not picking up tickets at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

While we were there, I found a flier for the upcoming Dallas Opera season.  One of my secret loves, Opera does beautiful things.  I love the scenes on stage, the way the music swirls around me when I close my eyes, the opportunity to get all dolled up and most of all the stories being told in such a classic way.  Not to mention, the Winspear is a beautiful facility -- all polished woods, deep red velvets, shining glass and gleaming chrome -- that almost begs that you come and enjoy the scenery.

Winspear Opera House (credit: AT&T Performing Arts Center)

This year's Dallas opera season is aptly titled Pursuits of Passion.  Doesn't that sound delicious?  Heading up the season is Aida (the tale of conflicted interested, divided loyalties, two princesses and sexy sailing captains...expect a diverse cast, lots of conflict, unique costumes and glorious singing) opening October 26th, it's an event not to be missed.



Latonia Moore as Aida (credit: Dallas Opera)



Next Chapter: The Story of Teia B. Collier

Let's start with a story, after all, every good reinvention begins with one.




Leather jacket: BeBe. Crown: Erickson Beamon. Photo: Andrea Bass.

 Once upon time there lived a young woman, in desire of a little reinvention and redefinition.  She had been known by many names and probably as many titles, as befitting a woman of this century, but the roles that she loves the most are mother, editor, foodie, book lover and aspiring goddess.  She runs her company in the way that she runs her life, with passion, positivity, energy and under the motto of the Golden Rule and with the preset that "Impossible things are happening everyday." -- so they might as well happen for her.  She finds that if she expects to have a great time, it usually happens, and that good friends, good food and fun fashion almost ensure that it occurs.  She draws inspiration from the world around her and the stuff of legends.  Master explorer, creative wiz and at times, oversharer, she counts herself lucky to be in one of the greatest cities on this earth, Dallas, Texas.  She figures that life is complicated enough on its own, so she might as well, find pleasure and beauty in as many ways as possible. 

This is her love letter to her city and the next portion of her journey.  Welcome to the adventure.

Happiest of adventures,
Teia