 I had a text from my favourite optician this week reminding me that it’s time for my annual checkup. It’s annual because there is a history of glaucoma in my family so it is important to keep tabs on what’s happening with the peepers.
I am short sighted and have been wearing specs since my early twenties. I’ve had the Harry Potter style frame, the Deirdre Barlow frame, the frameless frame. I’ve had the sunlight adjusting lens and every coating you can think of. But nothing, absolutely nothing, captures my heart more than sunglasses. It’s reached a point where, if I were to buy another pair, I’d probably buy them secretly because even I know that no one woman needs as many pairs of prescription sunglasses as I own.
Yesterday I popped in to the optician to make an appointment. He had just had a delivery of new styles and showed me what’s popular at the moment. It seems frames are getting bigger again and I’m not at all sure I’m ready to make the move back into those deeper styles nor am I too keen for the ‘stronger’ look of large black frames. So it seems likely that if I make a change, it will probably be towards Ray Ban who apparently do more than sunglasses. In fact, these frames might be just what I need to release my inner sixties child.
According to ClaimTheFrame.com Ray Ban are the top selling brand this year with Diane Von Furstenberg a close second.
You heard it here first, girls!
Cath Kidston had me dancing up the street this evening. In case you don’t know who she is, Cath Kidston is a British fashion designer whose range includes lovely floral bags, aprons, wellington boots, and various household goods.
 There’s something about the Cath Kidston range that just cheers you up and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in a shop without pausing for a closer look. So far, sadly, I don’t own anything from the range but for ages I’ve lusted after a bag like this one. I love the design, and I’m sure that the oilcloth is practical and waterproof, and I can see myself using this as an overnight bag. Every time I see it in a shop, I pick it up and consider carefully. Then, reluctantly, I persuade myself that I have enough bags and so I put it back on the shelf and come home empty handed.
That’s finally about to change because today I listened Cath Kidston on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs with Kirsty Young. Cath came across as so warm and practical, sincere, open, funny and smart, that you couldn’t help but wish you could have dinner with her and listen to her stories all evening. Her school stories were particularly funny. She talks about her ‘fabulously naughty’ sister and tells a wonderful story about coming top of the class in Latin because she drew the best Roman soldier wearing a toga. Sadly, Cath’s father died young and she attributes some of her success to her attempts to make him proud of her. She speaks movingly about her experience of cancer and not having had children. It is a wonderfully warm and wise interview and, at the time of writing, is available as podcast from BBC’s website or from iTunes.
I enjoyed it so much, I won’t feel guilty about buying this bag next time I see it.
And what was I dancing to? Monty Python no less. Always look on the bright side of life … tee tum, tee tum.
PS If you like the bag, check out the Cath Kidston range on www.cathkidston.co.uk
I take my hat off to women who set up their own businesses and lately I have been lucky enough to come across quite a few. One of these ladies has the most gorgeous collection of French-inspired furniture and collectibles. She also stocks a variety of Tintamar VIP (Very Intelligent Pocket) handbag liners.
I’d never heard of a handbag liner and I wonder how I have managed to live all these years without one. Essentially it’s a little nylon pocketed purse/bag that you use to organise the contents of your handbag. It helps you avoid that frantic scrabbling at the bottom of the bag for your keys or loose coins or whatever else you’ve just dropped in on the run and then can’t find when you need to retrieve it.
Since I’ve been using the commuter handbags which are pretty roomy to accommodate all that stuff I seem to need to bring in and out to the office every day, I keep losing my keys in the bottom of the bag. Panic ensues and that is not much fun at the end of a long day. So, of course I succumbed and bought one of these liners. I’m using mine to hold my makeup, phone, a couple of pens, keys, medications, and a few other bits and bobs and the system seems to be working quite well. I don’t have the entire contents of my bag in it, but I have most of the loose bits and bobs organised and that makes it easier to find just about everything else.
The liners come in different sizes. I went for one of the smaller ones because I’m happy to have some stuff – like my book and my wallet – separate.
They are a little pricey (about 30 euro upwards) but mine is nylon so it should be hard wearing and is machine washable. I’m impressed. Definitely an addition for the commuter handbag!
 Ring from the Spinning Ring Extreme range. This one is sterling silver with blue cubic zirconia. I love sterling silver – especially in summer – and it looks even better when it is enhanced by pretty stones. I also love rings because unlike your pendants or your earrings, you can see a ring on your hand and take pleasure from it yourself. So, not surprisingly, the other day when I came across the Spinning Jewelry range which combines both these elements, it was love at first sight. Despite the current pressure on my credit card, I splashed out on this ring from the ‘Spinning ring extreme range’. I like the chunky band and the blue cubic zirconia is utterly summery for the current season. The rings come in sizes from XS to SL. I bought the ‘L’ size which is equivalent to ring size ‘P’. Depending on your taste and budge, there are lots more rings in the range, some of them more delicate than the one I chose. I thought they were all very pretty and will be going back when the finances allow to pick up one or two of the smaller rings for stacking. The jewelry is all either sterling silver or 8 ct gold and the range includes earrings, bangles, rings, and of course the charms that are so popular with the tweens and twenties at the moment. The Spinning Jewelry website lists stockists in various countries if you’re interested in taking a closer look.
The purpose of this list is to make it easy for Internet entrepreneurs to be inspired! Here are my suggestions for the things that we REAL women REALLY need:
- The Sleep Bra. This 100% cotton, no wire garment will provide gentle support while we sleep. If you want to get fancy, it will come pre-loaded with a naturally based firming agent so we wake up with lifted and perkier boobs.
- The Hot / Cold Nightie. Now I’ve read about the bed fan and about the disposable nightie. But it’s not just night sweats we’re contending with, it’s also night shivers. So what we need here is the thermally adjustable nightie.
- The Inflatable Husband. Before you get complacant thinking “That’s easy” – we need one that can clean the gutters, wash the car and put the trash out.
- The Commuter Handbag. For a detailed specification, see my earlier blog on the subject.
- The Trainer Heels. These fashionable court shoes available in all the latest (and earliest) shades, will help lure us out of our flatties and help us find our way back into high heels. Balance is critical.
- The Stabliser Soundtrack. This will fix us if listening to Enya underwater has given us vertigo.
- The Manage Your New Young Boss Survival kit. This should contain gin, lemon, tonic and a handy pocket collection of quick and easy flattery prompt cards.
- The No-Mess Mineral Makeup Dispenser and Brush.
- The Sleep Easy Nightmare Chaser making bad dreams instantly forgettable. If this also works on inappropriate bed fellows that would be an added bonus.
- The Annual World Menopause Day Reminder and Party Kit.
If you have ideas for other items to include on future lists, please leave me a comment and I will be happy to incorporate them next time! Thanks for reading today. I look forward to trialling your inventions.
STOP PRESS: Just added elsewhere on this blog, The Complimentary Menopause Diary could be another item on this list. Check it out entrepreneurs, check it out!
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I had a text from my favourite optician this week reminding me that it’s time for my annual checkup. It’s annual because there is a history of glaucoma in my family so it is important to keep tabs on what’s happening with the peepers.
