What We Love Wednesdays!! Brittana - Glee!

Once again, the choice of topic for this week's WWLW was hottly debated but we decided to go for something thats HOT on TV - Glee! Well actually, Brittana - Brittany and Santana. Why? We LOVE Ryan Murphy's portrayal of this couple, and of course they are gorgeous girls.

Having watched recent episodes of Glee where Santana has been 'outed', it made us remember why the writing in Glee is SO clever and how it really does help redefine stereotypes. For those of you who aren't Gleeks you don't necessarily have to know the weekly on-goings of Britanna for this post to be relevant, but to bring you up to speed (Here's what you missed on Glee):

Season 1 - no-one is quite sure if Brittany and Santana are 'just good friends' - they are both are seen with boyfriends until the 'Sectionals' episode, when Brittany mentions that 'if sex were dating she'd be dating Santana!' Fast forward to the Duets episode in Season 2 where they mention having shared 'sweet lady kisses', but Brittany starts dating Artie after Santana says she doesn't love her....as Season 2 continues there are more and more scenes of them touching, holding and flirting until they visit Holly Holliday (Gwyneth Paltrow) to discuss their feelings! Neither admits to being a lesbian but the song they sing says it ALL! Santana has a revelation: 'I’m a bitch because I’m angry. I’m angry because I have all of these feelings. Feelings for you, that I’m afraid of dealing with because I’m afraid of dealing with the consequences. I want to be with you, but I’m afraid of the talks and the looks. I’m so afraid of what everyone will say behind my back, still I have to accept that I love you. I love you and I don’t want to be with Sam or Finn, or any of those other guys. I just want you.' Moving on to the 'Born This Way' episode, our favourite episode of Glee - although the 'Lebanese' t-shirt was rejected by Santana as it was meant to read 'lesbian', it was a turning point and from then on it's been clear to all that Santana really loves Brittany! That brings us to Season 3 and even though there hasn't been an episode to 'DTR' (define the relationship) Santana is about to be outed in a campaign intended to bring down Sue (the cheerleading coach, resident bitch, one of our fav characters & congress seat hopeful- played by Jane Lynch (an all round AMAZING actress)) and as they say, 'thats what you missed on Glee'!

Fascinating as that all is, why is it the topic for WWLW? Santana's 'outing' brought up something close to home - amazing as our life is, I (Sarah) have not exactly had the easiest 'coming out' story. In fact, to this day my parents have decided that rather than acknowledge me being with Laura, I must NOT TELL ANYONE - I can be 'out and proud' as long as they 1) never have to hear about it, 2) never have to acknowledge it and 3) I can continue to have a relationship with them BUT make no reference to Laura, the things I do with Laura or how much I love Laura! So everyone I work with knows and in fact most of my facebook friends know (hell Laura and I do SO much together I don't want to be quiet about it!!!!) but no-one in my family (or extended family) can know. When Santana and Brittany hold hands under a napkin it might as well symbolise Laura and my life around my family - undercover! The sad thing is it's been 3 years. I have tried to prove being with Laura hasn't changed me, I have shown what Laura and I are capable of - I have even tried to involve them but to no avail. And so back to the Glee link and to refer back to the quote, I keep telling Laura 'I don't want to be with any other guys, I just want you'- thankfully she believes me! No amount of my Mum's praying, ignoring or hurtful comments about how I feel about Laura will make a difference, I just feel sad for the stuff that my family will miss out on.

True love, no H8

So- why do we LOVE Glee? We've found it is true to life - neither Laura or I have said we are for sure 100% 'Lebanese' - before 'we' happened, we had both dated guys - but I read something the other day that summed it up perfectly 'the guys were lovely, they just bored me, I didn't know what that meant until I met the One, then it wasn't boring any more' - it just happens that my One is a girl, my One is Laura.

We appreciate the increasing visibility of 'lipstick lesbians' to highlight that being a lesbian isn't about shaving your head, getting tattoos and looking 'androgynous' - in fact, since being with Laura I have become FAR more girly - we do each other's make up, go clothes shopping, cook, dance around the flat (mainly to Britney Spears see our love of Britters HERE)  - I think my parents have a hard time because they are so closed off and unwilling to see any good in anything that isn't stereotypically correct- I understand they fear being judged, I just hope one day their love for me becomes more important. Laura and I plan to get married, raise a family (of well behaved kids :) - and it looks like we have a chance, see HERE),  get dogs (already named as Nando and Sydney) and live happily ever after. Neither of us may be a Prince but who says we can't have our modern fairytale!

Lets hope Brittana get theirs - or at least continue showing that being in a girl-girl couple has far more benefits that 'sharing sweet lady kisses'!!!!!

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With love, Sarah xo

What's Happening, Hot Stuff?? 20/11/2011

Welcome to WHHS!

Our world has had not a lot going on this week due to the flu putting Sarah out of action for a few days - but good news, the Christmas tree is up and looking FABULOUS:

We will follow these up with more pics once the decorating is complete!

In the UK the focus is all about TV - I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor - we really are on count down to Christmas - 5 weeks to Christmas to be precise! The only one we are watching is X Factor - voting for Misha B, Marcus or Little Mix but I'm sure you aren't interested in re-reading whats all over the press so we'll move on to other news!

Misha B

Marcus

Little Mix

Following the news about London winning the World Athletic Championships the 'LGBT History month' community is holding a pre-launch event on Monday at the Kia Oval cricket ground in London. It is a free all-day public event based on 2012 Olympics to tackle homophobia in sport.

And Children In Need raised a record amount this year- during the Friday night show they raised more than  20 million pounds! It was the first time a charity event used Twitter to support it's fundraising effort and it paid off - literally! (CIN 2011) Out of all the charities, Children In Need was the first charity I (Sarah) raised any significant money for (well, 200 pounds!) - I organised a charity Line Dance in 1998! So we settled in and enjoyed the cheese-fest that was Children In Need 2011! Our highlight was Russel Howard - oh and the Muppets leading the mahna mahna song.

In the United States of America there has been more news in the battle for Gay marriage - California's supreme court has ruled that anti-gay marriage group 'Protect Marriage' can defend the ban on gay marriage in court - if you have time, don't waste it checking their website - according to them 'Traditional marriage is the foundation of society and has served our state well for centuries. California’s constitutional marriage amendment exists to strengthen society, encourage monogamous and loving marriages and to provide the optimal environment to ensure the well being of children. Marriage is between one man and one woman.' - Seriously? First of all, traditional marriage encourages monogamy - surely marriage encourages monogamy, not solely 'traditional' marriage! And they must have missed the report that same-sex couples have better behaved kids! (see last week's WHHS).

Before we sign off and let you enjoy the rest of the weekend, have you seen the controversial Benetton advert- the UNHATE campaign had images of the Pope kissing an Egyptian muslim leader and Obama kissing Hugo Chavez- the ads have been banned but I guess it's had the affect they wanted if everyone's seen them! The point of the campaign is people of different race, orientation and creed should not hate each other - Simples!

Have a great week and enjoy Thanksgiving for those in the US! We will be launching our Thanksmas celebrations at the start of December - but more on that next week!

Laura & Sarah xo

Sarah's Fun Fact Fridays! - Going Round In Circles!

Welcome to SFFF! And so to the facts....

Did you know that only 45% of London's underground is actually UNDER-ground......it is the oldest underground in the world - and originally, a set of numerous lines, it was officially joined up in 1933! Currently the shortest distance you can travel is between Leicester Square and Covent Garden - a mere 0.16 miles (it's actually quicker to walk!!!!)

Are you going underground.....or just getting deeper?

Covent Garden, or should I say Convent Garden, was originally part of Westminister Abbey and having spent it's early life being farmed it became the first official public square in the country in the 17th Century. But what's that got to do with going round in circles, I hear you ask? - the design of the square was actually taken from the Italian Piazzas and we know what the Italian's are famous for.....

Not quite the quiet place to pray any more.....

That's right the good 'ole pizza - which of course is circular- the word however, is dervived from the Italian word 'pizziare' meaning point! The term pizza first appeared in 997 AD in text that claimed certain tenant's must give the Pope 12 pizzas every Christmas day! Naples is the original home and we were lucky enough to taste the real deal HERE! However, it's worldwide fame came when the Italian immigrants took the humble pizza to the USA and during World War II the yanks got quite a taste for it. Post 1940 pizzerias sprung up EVERYWHERE!

Viola....

And so to my final fact.....PIZZAS ARE VEGETABLES!!!! I kid you not- it's official! The US congress said so....the amount of tomato paste in pizza sauces means that they can be counted as 1 of your 5 a day! In fact according to congress anything containing 2 or more spoonfuls or tomato sauce can be counted as a vegetable!

Only another 4 portions to find!

Pizza Hut is actually the oldest well known leading pizza chain - established in 1958 and having sold billions of pizzas, its name actually came around by pure chance. The first restaurant sign only had room for 9 letters and the building looked like a hut, so viola PIZZA HUT! It's now over 50 years old and owned by the largest restaurant company in the world- Yum Brands Inc! However you want to enjoy your pizza - eat in, buffet style, takeaway, delivery - ordered online or called in enjoy it, knowing you are eating something nutritious and delicious (according to congress)!

It's a good job they weren't in a cabin!

So for this week I will say goodbye - or 'god be with you' as it originally was (that God guy likes to get in on everything doesn't he!?!)

Ah yeah and I found this that I thought I would share....to set the scene- it was my birthday, Laura and I were at our weekly pub quiz and at half-time the quiz host would ask questions regarding a person and whoever got it quickest won a prize! See how long it takes a certain someone to get the right answer......

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO!

I told you I love facts.....and now you know I love pub quizzes too!

P.S. - thank you Laura, your organisation never fails to impress! xx

What We Love Wednesday!! We MUSTACHE you a question!

MOUSTACHES OR MUSTACHES, HOWEVER YOU SPELL IT, YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE THEM.....

Over the last few years, Laura has developed a love for mustaches, and the manly men who wear them. Sarah grew up with a Dad who has sported a [rather dashing, Laura thinks] 'tache her entire life so has grown accustomed to seeing the lip rug asleep on his lip - others have men in their life who prefer the clean shaven appearance. But rightly or wrongly the moustache is back in fashion! No longer are men celebrated for being boyish and hairless... now men showing of their manliness are kind of attractive!

Don't you love our finger 'staches?

Sarah is so excited about them!

Of course, being a girl girl couple we lack the ability (or desire) to rock the 'mo (see above), but (because Laura wishes she could) we have decided to dedicate this week's WWLW to the marvelous mustache as we are mid-way through Movember and both of us have a soft-spot for man with a flavour-saver!

The moustache has played its part in history: the thickness of a man's 'mo used to denote military rank and experience - men who had them were thought to have much wisdom and strength! Not sure Hulk Hogan quite fulfills that criteria!  

The person responsible for Laura's 'stache fixation is her good friend Julia Green, who has LOVED all kinds of facial hair for as long as Laura can remember - beards, mustaches, and combos too I'm sure! She is an amazing illustrator, and has done a good many mustache pictures throughout the years, as well as cute animals, all kinds of characters. She is probably the most talented person we know, so you should most definitely check out her website!! http://www.juliagreenart.com/

One of Julia's amazing mustache-d men!

WHAT IS THE MOVEMBER CAMPAIGN??

As we mentioned, we can't be a part of this event - but we CAN support those who are capable of growing a 'stache - For the month of November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men's faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of the campaign is to raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. The Movember Foundation is an Australian-based, not for profit, charitable organisation.

On Movember 1st, men register at http://www.movember.com/ with a clean-shaven face and for the rest of the month these generous and manly men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the history books of fine moustachery! Mo Sistas are the women who register to support the men in their lives, raising funds by seeking sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts. Some women even pledge to wear a fake mustache every day of November! Laura is trying to get Sarah to do this next year :)

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November and through their actions and words raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men's health. This year is the 5th annual campaign.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by the Movember corporation, for Movember.

Alternatively, for all the single and generous women out there, Asylum have come up with another way to support the cause: HAVE SEX WITH A GUY WITH A MUSTACHE!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GudcxvmHoyQ

We might just stick to supporting those MoBro's that we know instead! :)

Matt

Gordon

 If you'd like to donate, just click the above links - we promise the last guy does actually have a mustache, it's just blonde!

 Look - even Perez is in on the action:

the MSN logo:

And US!!

Sexxxxy!

Do you have an amazing mustache, or know someone who does? Send it to us, we'd love to show it on our blog! Please feel free to comment, and follow us on Twitter @Sprezzatura_LnS

Love, Laura & Sarah xo