Just call me Ariel

A few months ago I was lucky enough to win a beautiful swimsuit from Forluna swimwear, on an Instagram competition held by the gorgeous Atomic Amber  I've wanted this suit for so long that I've lost count, but could never justify buying it for myself when I never went near water. Well, things change. I refuse to inflict my fears of water on my kid, so he started swimming lessons at 12 weeks old, and this lead to that most horrifying of tasks...buying a swimsuit. 

We've all been there, standing in the oh so slightly yellow light of a grotty changing room, trying to squeeze your wobbly bits into what feels more like a sausage casing than a piece of clothing. We know the futility of peering through the racks of gorgeous kinis and suits for that elusive bigger size before admitting defeat and picking up that bland skirted monstrosity that you saw an elderly lady try on earlier. I don't think I know a single woman who hasn't had at least one experience like this in their lifetime. 

It shouldn't be like this. I do know one kickass lady in NYC who works in swimwear and they have some great stuff, but I've struggled to find anything in the UK so I was beyond ecstatic to find I'd won a suit, and the suit of my choice, no less. There was no indecision. I may not have the stunning Atomic Amber's figure, but I wanted the gorgeous green Esther Williams suit she had featured in her giveaway. I'd coveted it for years and now was my chance!

I've been holding off on reviewing, convinced that I'd find time to get some decent photos taken of me in the suit, but who am I kidding? I'm a mama to a 5 month old baby...finding time for things is almost impossible! So here we are. I got the husbeast to snap a few pics after our class and of course there is the selfie stick "it's here" photo from months back. I'm not disappointed. Not at all. Quite the opposite, in fact! The fabric quality is fantastic, thick and stretchy and it's held it's colour well. Sizing seems fairly accurate too. I'm currently a U.K. 22 for the boobs (HH/J cups) and the size 22 fits ok. You may want to size up a little, but I'm happy with mine as it is. The elastane content seems to be pretty good, as I regularly pop a boob over the top to feed the lil dude...swimming is thirsty work! It goes through the machine each week and washes like a dream. But more importantly, I feel like a frigging mermaid in it. I know I am not, but I feel tall and lithe and sparkling, and I have gone from dreading going near water, to looking forward to our weekly lesson. Obviously, the good instructor has a lot to do with this, but feeling confident in my fabulous suit sure as hell doesn't hurt 😉 

Now I've got my eye on their retro two pieces...maybe in a pretty print this time? Anchors? Polka dots? Who knows...but I'm surely feeling brave enough to rock a bikini these days! 

 

 

Alice? Who the F@@k is Alice?

I've been taking my new meds for about 2 weeks now and (fingers crossed) they appear to be working some magic. I'm finally starting to feel a little bit human again, and this week I made an effort to rejoin the land of the living. I've been to the cinema three times this week, for three very different films.

I started the week nice and slowly, deliberately choosing films that had been out for a long time, as I'm not a fan of crowds right now. Valentines Day was my first pick and I was the only person in the screen. Total bliss! The film itself wasn't at all what I had thought it would be, and this became the theme for my whole weeks viewing.

I had thought that this film would be a saccharine sweet ode to love, which would curdle the popcorn in my stomach and leave me cold. I couldn't have been more wrong. It was quietly romantic, with a hefty, but subtle, helping of comedic reality. The whole cast was a veritable who's who's of hollywood, yet no one tried too hard to shine above the others, making this sweet little film one that I'd happily watch again on a girly night in.

Next up was the American contender for the Harry potter throne, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. This film had an easy lead over the others, because it stars the lovely Sean Bean as Zeus, King of the Gods. Typecasting I thought;) Still it was nice to see him back in the armour he fills so well.

I can see this franchise doing extremely well with the post-potter crowd. The actor playing Percy is perfect jailbait for that generation and unlike the seemingly endless HP movies, the film had an excellent pace and flow, and didn't drag on forever. Kids love anything quest-like, so I'm surprised that the Greek Gods haven't come in for this treatment before now. Most of the other greek inspired epics have had too high a rating for younger viewers to enjoy them on the big screen. This movie balanced the adult elements beautifully and kept me entertained right to the end.

And finally, Last night I saw Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland. The hype has been huge, and people have been raving about how amazing it is, but as with Avatar, I was a little disappointed.

Don't get me wrong, again like avatar, it was lovely to look at. A veritable feast for the eyes, in fact, but I was expecting a Tim Burton film. Instead I got a traditional Disney movie. Pretty, brightly coloured, bastardised story to suit the Disney crowd, and ever so slightly beige overall.

Tim Burton's films have always seemed, to me at least, to be a little anarchic. Out of the norm, if you know what I mean. I was expecting a totally different reworking of the Alice stories, not a sickly sweet romp through pretty wonderland. Hell, even the Fearsome Bandersnatch was positively cuddly! He could have won Crufts, for crying out loud! Half the kids in my screen went 'awwwwww' when he first appeared, depsite the fact that he was chasing a very IT girl-like heroine through the garden.

Which brings me on to the costumes. The supporting characters were pretty well imagined, if a little safe, but it was Alice's wardrobe that really got my goat. Other than her first and last few outfits, I felt that the costume desinger had totally lost the plot and decided to use the film as her chance to showcase her ideas for Paris Fashion week. The costumes reeked of badly done Haute Couture, and the rather insipid, slightly doped-up looking actress became a mere coat-hanger for the designers high fashion aspirations. Such a pity as the scope for costuming in this film was endless. I did think the make-up was fabulous. Depp's mad hatter looked wonderfully asexual and had tons of wee details on the face to lift the character to new levels

While I'm not the biggest Johnny Depp fan, and therefore a little biased, again I wasn't impressed. I'm afraid all I've seen for the last few films is Jack Sparrow. I'm reminded of that old mothers standard for face pulling children. 'If you're not careful the wind will change and you'll stay like that!' Perhaps Mr Depp's mother forgot to remind him of this?

Now before you all jump in and say 'ooooh but it's so much better in 3D' you need to know that it WAS the 3D version I saw. I have a slight problem with this recent fad. You see unless something is thrown towards the audience, like the rugby ball in the SKY advert before the film, I don't really register the 3D. After 5 or 10 minutes, it could just as easily be plain old 2D for me. I think in the future I'll save myself the surcharge and uncomfortable glasses, and stick to the traditional method of viewing.