Showing posts with label recommendations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recommendations. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Attn: Bespectacled


Dear readers, I have a recommendation for you. Before I begin [what is, with hindsight, a rather rambly sort of post] I will just clarify that this is absolutely not a paid promotion (though I'm not opposed to the prospect) but merely a heads up from a satisfied customer [I'd probably have to omit the charming anecdotes found below if this were a paid post. You're welcome].

I went to an optometrist way back in primary school, when it was discovered I couldn't see the whiteboard. I remember being dumbfounded by how clear the world was after we picked up my new metal-framed glasses, which were adorned with a (questionably) subtle leopard print. As fellow vision-impaired readers will know, being a child with glasses means getting a bit of stick from your peers- the term "four eyed beast" still makes my fists clench in anger, and the particular bully who coined that phrase is actually now deceased. I digress.

When I got to around age 15, I was wearing my glasses as little as possible, and learning to recognise uniformed blurs as individual school mates. All was well. Then I finally got contact lenses! I've worn the 30-day contact lenses for the past few years, and found them super comfortable. I was prescribed the ones that you can sleep in due to being extremely lazy and irresponsible. Anyway, despite being 'breathable', leaving the lenses in my eyes so much has made the veins in my eyes grow over the whites a bit more than normal, and one of my irises has actually started to change colour a little. Not good, I know... I will schedule an optometrist appointment one other financial requirements are taken care of...

ANYWAY, a couple of years ago my Mum was recommended a website called Zenni Optical, which ships dirt cheap prescription glasses straight to your door. We bought three pairs, one of which I wore fairly frequently, to give my eyes a rest.

Recently I ran out of my supply of contact lenses, so I have been wearing my glasses all the time. They get a bit uncomfortable at work while wearing headphones over them, so I've just gone back to the Zenni website to have a look at what they have now. And boy, it's had a total makeover since my last visit! You can now upload a photo of yourself, and test out all sorts of both smart-and-sensible and bizarre frames (see above). The best part about doing it on this website is that when you find something you like, you can actually afford to buy it!

Now, I haven't bought anything from there in at least two years, so don't hurt me if you order and something gets messed up. But when I got my pairs, we had super speedy delivery. They are obviously not going to compete with glasses worth several hundy in an optometrist clinic, no. The ones I have purchased are plastic, and have minor (very minor) imperfections. But they give you perfect vision (you will need your prescription details handy when ordering online, but everything is well explained) and are amazing value even to just have as spare pairs, or to match different outfits. Most styles are also available with sunglass-tinted prescription lenses. Go have a look, and let me know if you order anything! I'll definitely be whipping out my debit card and clicking my way to a few new styles soon...

Monday, March 07, 2011

Top 10 Films

Sam at Honest to Blog! asked for lists of readers' top ten films. And for some reason I love torturing my indecisive mind, so after a lot of thinking and re-thinking; here's mine! In no particular order because that would be simply impossible. I haven't outlined the plots for any of them, because I hate the idea of spoiling a film for others.


The Dreamers
Finding a PG rated still to start things off was a little difficult. This film is not for the faint hearted, prudish, or easily offended. It is a little bit messed up. But Eva Green is absolutely phenomenal, and it's far and away my favourite film that's set in France. The whole film is my favourite scene, it's just fantastic- visual poetry.


Memento
Not a film I can watch on repeat, however the first time you watch it I guarantee you will want to see it again to catch what you missed. It's a bit to get your head around initially.


Closer
I love Natalie Portman, but there just isn't that many films of hers that I like equally as much. Garden State and V for Vendetta are both entertaining, but Closer is really the only one I can watch again and again. Clive Owen's presence helps, admittedly. This film is not as messed up as The Dreamers, but the language is pretty crude. This still is from what is probably my favourite scene, if you consider it to start at the photoshoot. It's not as hostile and intense as other parts of the film, but it definitely gives the viewer an uneasy feeling.


American History X
Edward Norton is amazing, that is all. (Not for the weak-stomached).


Inglourious Basterds
I'm no Tarantino fan girl- he's an incredible filmmaker, but I can't seem to watch his films again and again. Inglourious is the exception. I went along without knowing anything about the storyline and absolutely fell in love. It's brutal and funny and quirky and sexy and pure entertainment from start to finish. And Michael Fassbender is an effing babe.


Rat Race
A comedy that never gets old. You should have bought a squirrel.


The Life of David Gale
This film was not well received by critics according to the Wikipedia page, but it does alright on IMDb, and I loved it. I first saw it played late on TV a couple of years ago, and the ending really grabbed me. The plot is definitely flawed in places, but Kevin Spacey is consistently brilliant.


Atonement
This is one of those rare film adaptations which better the book. It's completely magical and devastating. The score is amazing. It's perfectly paced. It's stupidly tragically beautiful, and I cry every time. I absolutely recommend.


View from the Top
I can definitely do the odd cheeseball film, and View from the Top is number one on the list. Hello, tacky flight attendants and crazy airlines? Never gets old to me.


The Birds
If you haven't seen this freaking classic, you are missing out in a big way. In my opinion it's far superior to Psycho.