May 12 2015

Flattering swimwear for big busted girlies from Bras Galore

Posted on May 12, 2015 by admin

The swimming costume. That necessary yet fear-inducing wardrobe essential for your upcoming holiday. For the larger woman this one item causes untold stress.

We frantically buy up every single swimsuit available online featuring a tummy panel, then spend a fortune on sarongs to cover up said swimsuits. Nerves get the better of us and we put off going into store in case we are spotted by neighbours, mates, hell anyone rifling through the swimwear section searching out those size 16s - even if we do find them our boobs spill out like jelly, completely at odds with our desire to gracefully blend into the poolside crowd.

Do we pick a one colour piece (black is said to be flattering, right?) or something heavily patterned to disguise all those lumps and bumps our crash diet has failed to sort? Underwire would be great but there doesn’t seem to be one other woman on the planet with a size 16 tummy and the boobs of a woman twice that - as least no one who shops on the high-streets you’re pounding anyway. There’s plenty of choice for fuller figured women with a pair of D Cups, but none for those of us with Es and higher.

Top pics from Bras Galore: Freya Tootsie Soft Cup Triangle Swimsuit - Azure £52 / Freya Spirit Soft Cup Plunge Tankini Top - Hot Pink £50 / Freya Memphis Bandeau Tankini Top £49 / Freya Fever Plunge Swimsuit £52 / Freya Byzantine Bandeau Tankini Top £50 / Freya Revival Padded Bandeau Tankini Top - Black £48 / Freya Pip Padded Halter Neck Swimsuit £50 / Freya Rock The Beach Bandeau Tankini Top £46 / Freya Spirit Soft Cup Plunge Tankini Top - Coral £50

Before you know it, the holiday is upon you. You try not to whinge to your other half and contradict the carefully cultivated lie you’ve planted over a number of years - “my curves don’t bother me. I like my big boobs”. You even manage to enjoy the odd 4 o’clock swim when the teenagers have gone back to their hotels to spend the obligatory 4 hours straightening their hair and applying MAC by the trowel-load. You even allow the odd picture of you with a post-swim cocktail albeit with the condition that the camera points upwards of your thighs.

But what if you could buy a swimsuit that is made to measure for your boobs, and generously sized elsewhere? Better yet, one with ruching allowing you to cover your thighs or show some leg? Yep I’ve found that holy grail of swimsuit that makes you feel comfortable and confident with a timeless style that doesn’t cause heads to turn for the wrong reasons.

Who makes this wondrous swimsuit? Fantasie. That’s who. Those giants of plus sized and large cup lingerie andswimwear, who understand that curvy women deserve sexy undies too (… and often look better in it!). These guys know how to bring practical, comfortable and attractive together in fail swoop.

Here is that swimsuit - The Fantasie Versailles swimsuit (with adjustable leg)

But they’re expensive right? Well, no. My swimsuit is from Bras Galore and is priced at £64. As they’re wholly online, they aim to bring you bras and swimwear in every conceivable size (28-48 back, A-K cup size) for less. Having no store costs and fewer staff on the payroll, these guys have a whole host of fabulous deals on brands like Fauve, Freya, Fantasie and Elomi. If can’t find what you want in your size, you need only ask and they’ll try their best to get it. It’s the new way to shop and it’s addictive.

With free UK signed for delivery, they’ve even acknowledged how us girlies put off buying our swimwear to the last minute. Helpfully, returns are also a straightforward process allowing you to try for size, without the usual changing room troubles, in the comfort of your own home - thank you Bras Galore!

There’s so much I want from here and intend to buy over the next few months. I’m thrilled to have found a solution to trudging into store and a retailer that understands the difficulties us big-boobed women face. Theirs is such an easy shopping experience, I’ll definitely be using them again.

To have a sneaky look for yourself, head to www.bras-galore.com or follow them on Twitter and Facebook

May 5 2015

The BT 7500 Lightshow Baby Monitor Review

Posted on May 5, 2015 by admin

Since having Heidi, Craig has had to hook up no fewer than 5 baby monitors. When Dex was weeny we lived in a flat with his room nestled neatly between lounge and master bedroom (he couldn’t even fart without us noticing) so we didn’t bother with one, now Heidi’s here and we’ve moved to a larger house, it’s become an essential bit of kit. Aside from the fact it’s a potentially lifesaving device given the scary stats on cot death, it also allows us the freedom to roam about the home and simply get on with things whilst keeping a beady eye on Mini Madam.

Yet although we agree we can’t live without one, when my latest gadget arrived, Craig rolled his eyes - “Another one!? What’s wrong with our current one? They’re all more or less the same, right?“.

Well no. After just five minutes play with the BT 7500 Lightshow Baby Monitor we’ve definitely discovered that not all baby monitors are created equal. This one really is the nuts.

Top Features BT 7500 Lightshow Baby Monitor:

Easy set-up

It’s a conventional two piece setup - the camera/microphone/lightshow unit, and the parent unit (a.k.a remote viewing station). For the initial set up, it’s a case of plugging the cables into both the camera unit (requires mains) and the control unit (which has approx 6.5 hours battery life per charge), switching them on and letting them connect to each other automatically.

The parent unit requires 5 hours charge initially if you plan on using it hands-free, if not, you can pop it in the docking station and get started straight away. The display will show, “Linking up…” and simply do it’s thing. As Craig is used to faffing around with instruction manuals this suited him just fine. A set-up wizard then asks you to set the time and whizzes you through you all your baby monitor’s features. You can skip through the set up wizard by simply tapping exit, and watch again by tapping the menu and then “BT Help”.

A top notch camera with both infrared and comprehensive pan and tilt

A live video feed will then show baby resting or sleeping with perhaps the best clarity I’ve come across. The picture quality is first rate and the night vision (infrared) is also very clear with no bright lights on the camera unit to disturb baby as she sleeps. It can be strange to wake up bleary-eyed and see Heidi with possessed beaming eyes, but it definitely gets your arse-in-gear to see to her needs.

The camera also features pan and tilt which allows for almost 360 degree rotation horizontally and vertically. This can be controlled remotely and is completely silent so doesn’t wake Madam. Heidi is a very light sleeper yet will wriggle around her cot like no ones business, so this is the most comprehensive coverage we can get of her without physically standing over her as she sleeps. Better still, you can connect up to 4 cameras to the monitor (can be purchased separately) meaning you won’t have to purchase a whole new baby monitor if you have other small children.

3.5” colour touchscreen LCD display

I think I’m right in saying this is the largest monitor we’ve had. With a 480×320 resolution, it’s definitely the clearest. All the apps are easy to use with clear (and obvious) thumbnail images for you to navigate the settings. The parent unit also has a range of 50m indoors and 300m outdoors making it an ideal choice for those of you with rambling homes. If you’re a technophobe this has been my favourite monitor in terms of ease of use.

Lullabies, white noise and lightshow

I’m used to lullabies on baby monitors but most sound tinny and one dimensional. The BT 7500 Lightshow Baby Monitor has crystal clear HD sound and no fewer than 19 lullabies (including Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Brahms Lullabies and Three Blind Mice). You can choose to put a tune on repeat or play them in a sequence according to your child’s preferences (for a set length of time or indefinitely). Cleverly, these can be switched off and adjusted for volume remotely allowing parents the ultimate in flexibility. They’re great for disguising background noise whilst Heidi drifts off and we can listen to the tv downstairs at a comfortable volume without her kicking off in protest.

There’s also a comprehensive white noise portfolio including whale, womb and vacuum cleaner sounds - all the tried and tested noises that are clinically proven to soothe baby. Poor old Ewan the Dream Sheep has been relegated to a nearby drawer as a result.

My favourite bit is most definitely the lightshow (also remote controlled) displaying an array of moving and colourful planets and stars. We’ve wanted one of these for ages so it’s a major plus to see it integrated within the baby monitor. My only criticism is that this projects vertically upwards, so if the camera is on the opposite side of the room baby won’t see it. Whilst there is an option to screw the camera unit into the wall, ours is a privately rented home and we don’t feel comfortable tearing into the walls. A screw clip (similar to a cot mobile), would have been useful.

Micro USB Charging

First up, I’m pleased to see long USB leads which is an often overlooked design element on baby monitoring devices. Charging via USB is also fab for when you’re away from home as it’s compatible with other chargers should you forget yours. The parent unit also comes with a docking station for easy charging when you’re not lugging it about (this also acts as a perfect stand for your bedside table so your view of baby is never impeded).

Extras & Alerts

The unit has various timers to assist with nightfeeding (I personally wouldn’t have used this as I fed Heidi on demand rather than waking her with a boob in her face) and also a room temperature monitor that warns you if the room is too cold or hot. The recommended room temperature for a nursery is between 16⁰C–20⁰C which can feel a little on the cool side for us parents, so this is useful if you don’t have a standalone thermometer in the room. There’s also a ‘Cry’ alarm which will sound an alarm or vibrate the parent unit if the volume has been set to mute.

Like most monitors nowadays there’s also a talkback function for soothing baby whilst you climb the stairs to her room. I’ve never used this for the use in which it’s intended but I can instruct Craig to pause the telly if I think I’ll be awhile seeing to Heidi.

There’s also a nightlight built into the camera unit which omits a dull glow for you to check on baby without switching on the main light. This can be adjusted at three different brightness levels remotely on the control unit if you want to slowly limit babies field of vision as she drifts off.

There’s also a mute function, and low battery & out of range alert.

Any negatives?

Other than the slight grumble re the lightshow (as mentioned above) my only other niggle is the loss of picture quality when you use the 3x zoom (it goes slightly grainy). A micro SD slot would also have been cool for uploading our own music - Heidi’s a big fan of Pachelbel.

The BT 7500 Lightshow Baby Monitor is top of the range and weighs in at a hefty £180 (RRP) - good news though as it’s currently on sale at £149.98. This might seem expensive but it does the job of many singular devices we all end up buying throughout our pregnancies (think Gro Eggs, nightlights, cot mobiles etc) - as an all-in-one device BT have done a superb job of addressing all the key functions you need, as well as some extras to keep gadget fiends happy. It’s a new baby must-have and we’d recommend it without hesitation.

May 2 2015

Petit Sunglasses from SpecsPost

Posted on May 2, 2015 by admin

I don’t wear glasses. I get my eyes tested every year and somehow pass the tests with ease. I’m not sure how this is possible as I’m constantly having to ask Craigy how long there is left on his football matches when I’m just a couple of metres from the telly, yet I won’t refute the experts. I won’t go out of way to book in for a second opinion either - there’s something about that machine that puffs air into your eye that seriously freaks me out!

That said, I will admit to being that strange breed of woman who wouldn’t mind wearing them. The sexy secretary look hasn’t been lost on me and I get glasses-envy when I see celebs such as Liv Tyler, Jodie Foster and Anne Hathaway accessorizing with bold frames. In fact, I’m so obsessed that when Craig was recently diagnosed with short sightedness, I spent hours trying on glasses at the opticians rather than advising him what looked best on him.

Despite Craig’s diagnosis, he’s yet to buy glasses. In his work he’s constantly referring to paper maps and Google Maps so he really needs to pull his finger out. If you asked him, he’d say “I’m too busy to get in to a store”, but as his long-suffering partner I know there’s a few other factors tossed into the mix - cost, finding opticians pushy and bothersome, and having to choose something for himself. This is where SpecsPost come in.

Who are they? What makes them different?

SpecsPost are an online glasses company based in the UK catering for every style from rockabilly to geek with just about everything in between. They also sell a vast range of petite glasses and prescription sunglasses for the thousands of men and women who sneakily frequent the children’s section at their local opticians due to skinny-face syndrome. Styles are bang on-trend, and as SpecsPost are wholly online, all frames weigh in at amazing prices. Even better, you can still try before you buy, as you would on the high street, but from the comfort of your own home by using their home trial service.

Yep, SpecsPost have a rather handy service where, for a small (later returned) deposit you can choose up to three frames to trial over the space of a week (as well as packages with their best selling glasses if you’re finding it too hard to chose or don’t know where to start). Try them on, prance about your bedroom, get the opinion of family members and trusted mates, then simply post them back and let them know which ones you would like your prescription lenses in. They’ll make them up for you within 10 working days and post them back to you. Et Voila! New glasses without the slog of going into store and enduring the “trying on” saga.

They have a fab range of glasses, from heavy frames, to wire frames, men’s, women’s, designer and bargain pairs. I’m also a big fan of the fact they use customer (and blogger) photos to showcase their glasses; every-day people rather than a procession of glam models. Check out their Wall of Frames to see what I’m blathering on about.

So, ever the good girlfriend, I trialled the service for Craig, right?

Wrong. I selfishly opted to bag myself some sunglasses instead.

Yep the promise of vast range of petit sunglasses from SpecsPost drew me in. Needless to say, despite my ever-increasing backside, I have a ridiculously tiny face so lots of frames look huge on me, with up to 1cm “gapage” at the sides of my face. I can however easily carry off my son’s frames, but I’m not sure the Ninja Turtles really encapsulate my style. Nope, what I really needed was smaller frames around the eyes, yet proportioned and designed with an adult wearer in mind.

The lovely Julie from SpecsPost therefore sent me the “Life Of Pi” Petite Prescription Sunglasses (£24.99) and a pair that are so new, they aren’t even on the site yet - the “Grey Club Master” Petit Sunglasses (these will be £34.99). Each pair came well protected in its own case and arrived just in time for our recent holiday. Great stuff.

Oh and Dex liked them too. In fact, chucking them in the pool and fishing them out with the pool net, came a close second to terrorising his baby sister as a favourite pastime this holiday…

The price was a bit of a shock - I am used to paying some 8 times for that for designer sunglasses on the high street as I naively thought these were the only way I could get sunglasses to fit. These do they job perfectly well instead for a fraction of the cost. Quality-wise they’re super durable and withstood some real battering by Dex.

So, I’m pleased to report I’m delighted with the simple, quick and efficient service that SpecsPost offer. Best of all, because of those super low price points you can easily afford a few different styles to suit different looks/outfits. What’s not to love?

If you’d like to find out more about the ordering process at SpecsPost there’s a detailed FAQ section on the website. Alternatively you can follow them on Twitter or give them a quicky like on Facebook.