I’ve written about beautiful and creative eye makeup before on AlmostZara- notably the amazing Disney designs by Katie Alves, but I just stumbled across ANOTHER  artist whose work definitely needs a closer look. Jangsara is the name of the creator (and model) of the featured Star Wars R2D2 eye makeup, and she’s not a trained makeup artist, just a passionate fan with super blending skills.

Her blog covers a gamut of beauty related topics from product reviews to swatches of new items, but it’s her tutorials that draw me in- and she’s a geek girl after my own heart. As well as the usual blending smokey eye stuff you get on so many blogs, she has a LARGE section dedicated to recreating makeup from all types of science fiction movies, including Star Wars and the many characters from the Avengers movies- Thor to Captain America!

The spa world is an ever changing beast, as beauty addicts are always on the lookout for the latest hot facial or relaxing treatment. Spas are getting more inventive to cater to their thrill seeking clientele, and spa menus nowadays offer far more than the traditional facial, massage and manicure combo. Some of the latest treatments to hit the spa scene offer rather esoteric beauty benefits, and some will increase your adrenaline just by looking at the photos! Here are some of the strange and wonderful spa treatments now available.

Tickle Therapy

Tickle therapy may sound like a kind of torture to those with sensitive skins, but the CosquilleArte spa in Spain believes this can have very therapeutic benefits. This isn’t tickling as you know it- rather than being tickled till you squirm, this therapy is all about soft fingertip like strokes, and is performed by two people so you get a 20 finger sensation. Fingers are gently traced around the body and often aided by feathers to provide a treatment that soothes and relaxes the senses. Isabel Aires, the creator of tickle therapy says it allows ‘customers to return to a state of childhood, recalling earlier stages of pleasure and play to move to a state of wellbeing and relaxation.’ Tempted? Sounds a lot better when she puts it like that…

The Meat clever massage

I like my massages to err on the firm side and am happy to encourage my therapists to use more pressure as I don’t feel like I’ve had a proper massage unless I’m in a little pain (slightly masochistic I know). The Meat Cleaver massage is beyond even my range of comfort as it involves sharpened meat cleaver being lightly pressed against your face. Yes- your FACE.

Also known as the Chinese knife massage, the idea is that the blades help release the bodies stored energy and help it heal itself, as well as encourage circulation. You don’t have to go east to try this- Chinese Knife massage has now made its way over to France, so it’s a matter of time before it’s UK bound!

Russian Platza Treatment/ Venik massage

Russians are known for being capable and hardy, and the traditional Venik massage certainly puts their courage to the test. The Venik massage involves being repeatedly struck with tree branches in a variety of strokes- waggling, compressing, stroking, lashing, rubbing and stretching. The Venik (oak leaves attached to a branch) is placed along the body in a variety of motions, with pressure going from a light stroke to a full on lashing.

This will normally be combined with greasing up the body with olive oil and is thought to help release toxins from the body (oak leaves are a natural astringent) and exfoliate dead skin.  Different types of Venik (tree branches) are used depending on the ailments- Birch is said to be good with joint pains and healing whilst Oak is good for those with oily skin. Some other Veniks are made with Fir or Eucalyptus. This treatment is available at lots of places in the UK and you can normally find good spa deals offering it.

Watsu Water massage

Water is a great stress reliever and floating and swimming can really ease the stress of the day. Watsu combines the buoyancy and entertainment factor of water with that of a Shiatsu massage- hence the combined name of the treatment Wa(ter)tsu (shiatsu). This therapy involves entering a pool in your swimming costume (or nude, depending on therapist) and allowing yourself to sink into the arms of your treatment provider.

They will then manipulate pressure points on the body and combine this with stretched to make you feel amazing- because you’re so light they can really help ease tension all over and you’ll find yourself blessing out as it’s incredibly relaxing.

I think that trying any of these would make those spa days in London (or anywhere else in the UK) far more interesting, and you’d go home with a story as well as a newfound state of relaxation. I would need some major persuasion to try the Meat Cleaver Massage though…

[image source 1, 2]

If TV has taught us anything it’s that people love nostalgia and retro adverts fall right into the category. You might be able to get your fix of 1950′s adverts by watching the latest Mad Men series, but there’s so much more on offer than Don Draper’s nefarious designs.

The Vintage Ad Browser exists as a curation of amazing adverts from the last century and beyond, masterfully looked after by Philip Lessen who collects ads from all sources- scanned comic books, submissions, and more. Currently there are over 123,311 ads available to pour over, and all will bring you back to forgotten eras, from insanity in the 90′s to crazy alcohol and cigarette slogans from yesteryear. Some is offensive, a fair amount is sexist but above all it’s a priceless experience and you’ll find yourself wasting hours at work as you go through their archive. I’m very entertained by their Got Milk advert series (see above) as I never knew that Jackie Chan had been an advocate, and the celebs featured range from Elton John to Lauren Bacall and Britney Spears!

Here are a few of my favourite vintage ads- I’d love to know yours.

Gay Bob Doll in 1970- A rather racy toy!

1890 Medicine Ad- Pinks Pills for Pale People. Hmm.

Lucky Strikes Ad from 1930- advocating cigarettes over cough drops

Daisy Air Rifles- every juvenile delinquent should have a gun replica…

Little Katie Chewing tobacco from 1890. Why shouldn’t kids encourage you to smoke?

1890 French Corset ad

Estee Lauder 1964 Lipstick advert- a beginning for their epic lipstick.

I did warn you that some of these would make you raise your eyebrows!

Check out more great vintage ads at Vintage Ad Browser.

I have wanted to have laser eye surgery for the last 20 years. I first started wearing glasses when I was 8 years old, and have hated them ever since. I progressed onto contact lenses as soon as my Mum gave me permission, but though they’re great I do have some issues. They’re costly, my eyes get dry and I can’t wear them 24/7 or swim with them. I dabbled with day/night lenses (you take them out once a month) but didn’t agree with them, and thought longingly about laser eye surgery.

I had my first consultation four years ago (you should wait till you are in your twenties and your eyes have stabilized) and was told that I wasn’t suitable.  I have a high prescription (-7.5 Dioptres) but this alone wasn’t the main factor, as I also have thin corneas, and combined this simply wasn’t a safe option. I sadly gave up on my dream, but recently I decided to go for a new opinion- techniques have progressed and I might be candidate now. I wanted to be prepared so I researched all the types of laser eye surgery that are now on offer, and though I would share this with you. There’s a lot of information out there and some of it can be quite confusing, so I’ll try and decode the laser eye surgery process in this piece.

There are currently THREE types of laser eye surgery performed in the UK, as well as contact less implantation (called ICL)  for those who aren’t suitable for any of these options.

PRK

PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy. This used to be the most common laser technique till newer ones were introduced, and this generally is the one offered by those clinics when you see those ‘£200 per eye’ deals. It involves the DR removing some of the cells on the epithelium (this covers the surface of the cornea. It’s very thin and is quick to heal when the cornea is injured).  It involves no cutting of the cornea, but creating a ‘scratch’ along the surface, which is then treated with the excimer laser to help reshape the eye. The fact that you don’t need to create a flap means the eye will heal more cleanly, but the recovery time will be around a week, so you should prepare for a week off normal activities. Complications include infection, scarring, over correction and devloping astigmatism. Issues with light such as sensitivity and halos can be a concern. Corneal haze is the most common, where you’d experience some objects with a light haze around them. Post surgery bandage contact lenses are placed in the eye, which are taken out around 4 days later. Vision is blurry while they are in but tends to improve quickly when they are out. PRK is not performed at many places nowadays as most clinics offer LASIK and LASEK instead.

LASEK

LASEK is the newest procedure available, and is very similar to PRK in terms of approach and method. LASEK stands for Laser-Assisted-Epithelial-Keratomileusis.  In PRK the cells of the epithelium layer are taken off, whilst in LASEK they  are loosened with an alcohol solution. A laser is then applied to the surface of the cornea where it corrects the vision. When this is done (around 15 seconds per eye) the surgeon replaces the epithelium layer onto the eye ( or in some cases removes it completely) and places a bandage contact lens in the eye to protect it and provide comfort to the healing eye.

Recovery time is around a week, with vision improving once the bandage lens come out the eye. It can take up to six weeks to get ‘perfect vision’, though many patients experience good vision within two weeks. The eyes may be slow to heal, but the lack of a flap means that the eye health is better as no nerves were severed and that the eye will be stronger. This option tends to be chosen by people with thin corneas, and those who play contact sports ( a flap could become dislodged on contact, while this heals cleanly). I also want to mention that the laser used is clever enough that if you move your eyes during treatment it will stop lasering, so there’s no way you can mess this up by mistake. The same goes for LASIK as well.

Some places perform something called Epi-LASEK where the epithelium is removed with a laser rather than by hand. Some people suggest this aids healing, but other surgeons say there is no benefit to be gained from it. Top UK eye surgeon Professor David Gartry told me that he doesn’t use it as he feels there is nothing to be gained by it, and this is the man who brought laser eye surgery to the UK, so his word is pretty good.

LASIK

Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted-In-Situ-Keratomileusis. It can be used to treat myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. This procedure is more invasive than LASEK and PRK as it involves a flap being cut into the eye. This can be done by the Doctor or using a  a laser such as Intralase (with an added charge). The flap is then peeled back and then a  cool beam of light from the excimer laser  reshapes the front surface of the  eye. Anaesthetic drops are applied before the start of surgery so you should feel nothing except a light pressure on the eye. The flap is then placed back down and will heal naturally. Eyes may feel gritty and watery after the operation and will be sensitive to light, so you need to wear sunglasses to go home and they may be sore for a few days. Eye shields need to be worn at night for around a week to make sure the flap doesn’t get dislodged during your sleep. A follow up appointment happened 24 hours later,  and then  check up visits are scheduled.

The benefit of this treatment is that vision improves almost immediately, with people able to go back to work and drive within 48 hours.  This is currently the most common procedure in laser eye surgery, performed in around 95% of all cases. It can treat most prescriptions- from -1.00 to -10.00 (possibly even higher depending on the circumstances)

Wavefront Technology

Wavefront is not a type of surgery in itself, but it’s a way of performing laser eye surgery so I feel it deserves a mention. I’ve already spoken about how all procedures use a laser to reshape the cornea, but what I haven’t explained is that most lasers use a fairly basic pattern of prescription and shaping when they focus on the eyes.

Wavefront is a new(ish) type of laser, that maps the eye to create a custom shape that changes for each individual. It can used with both LASEK and LASIK procedures ( for an extra cost) and can treat higher prescriptions than a standard laser. the Wavefront laser identifies 20 points on the eye which are then matched with the machine and adjustments are made for size of pupils and eye positions. The laser uses a 3D eye tracker which follows all movements in the eye and keeps the laser centred to within 50 microns, so if you move during surgery you’ll be OK.

Wavefront was originally used in high end telescopes to help reduce distortion when looking into space, and now it’s used to measure and correct eyes- apparently its 24 time more precise than methods used for glasses or contact lenses. I think this should be standard with all laser treatments, but clinics like to slap a price tag on it (averaging an extra £800 per eye to use this).

For all procedures the aftercare involves a variety of eye drops  taken multiple times a day and depending on the surgery, sleeping with goggles or eye patches for a short time is generally standard practice.

PERSONAL NOTE:

I was approved for the LASEK procedure! Initially my clinician thought I could have LASIK, but a second opinion showed the same cornea thickness problem I’d been diagnosed with before so LASEK is a safer option for me. I was a bit sad at first- more pain and longer downtime, but I’m happy I won’t have as many side effects (halos, etc) and I’ll be good to play contact sports (or start playing them as I don’t have any I do right now). The issue with my corneas is that when you create  a LASIK flap you remove a certain amount of cells, and there is a ‘safe’ level for removal, as surgeons like to make sure you have at least 250 microns of tissue under the flap left in place. Some surgeons choose a higher number such as 280-300, which also gives them more cells to play with if they need to do a revision. In my case, creating  a LASIK flap would take me onto the cusp of the minimum micron requirement and my surgeons (have had two opinions) weren’t willing to take that chance.

I know that no surgery is risk free and I am informed about the side effects, so I’m going into this eyes wide open. I just feel that I would have so much freedom without my glasses and a better quality of life, ans as eyes start to naturally deteriorate in your forties now is the best time to have it for me as I’ll have a decade to enjoy good eyesight. Over ten years the cost of surgery becomes equivalent to paying for glasses and contacts, so I fell like I’m making an investment in me- and saving money in the long term.

I’m having my surgery this weekend, so you can look forward to a post detailing the procedure, the results, and the aftercare.

Terms to know:

Cornea; the cornea is a dome shaped window covering the eye. it provides most of the eyes focusing power and has more nerve endings here than anywhere else in the body. on average it’s half a mm thick and has 5 layers.

Epithelium: The epithelium covers the surface of the cornea. It’s very thin and is quick to heal when the cornea is injured. this is what needs to be removed/ opened when you have your laser treatment.

Excimer laser: This was first used for  vision correction in 1987. It works by producing a beam of UV light that is absorbed when it reaches high water containing tissue- such as the cornea. It doesn’t penetrate further so it’s safe to used, and works on the surface, keeping surrounding tissue safe whilst sculpting the corneal area.

[image via]

There is room for every sort of person in the blogosphere, but one that I’ve found cropping up again and again in my circle of friends is the rise of the food blogger. I have nothing against restaurant reviews- they’re helpful, and it’s good to get personal suggestions; but I do object to dining with someone who photographs every course. It’s weird, that’s what it is, and though it may make for a great blogpost, it turns dinner into some odd interactive show, where you suddenly start enthusing about the paprika blended mint sauce or the ‘insert pretentious foodie slang here’.

There is still room for innovation and creativity in the food blogging world (no, I don’ mean using a Lomo/Instagram filter) and I’ve found it personified by the 33RPM project.  The Desserts on Vinyl project features delicious looking desserts- from ice cream sundaes to creme brulee and pear tarts- spinning on a vinyl disc, and the creators have  paired this with a dedicated Spotify Playlist to match the sweet treats.

It’s a playful look at the food we love to eat, and a way of suggesting that foodies and food bloggers should up their game. These desserts all look mouth watering, and you can tell that serious time has been spent creating something beautiful and surprising out of everyday desserts. I love the feeling of food in motion you get from these images and the bright colours and feeling of movement make these images strangely mesmerizing.

The song choice pairings are particularly inspired, with Jolene by Dolly Parton matched withe the pear and red wine image, and Where is My Mind by the Pixies matched with Panna Cotta.

This is not food porn as we know it, but I’m glad its been re-invented, and I’d like to see more innovation and playfulness from food bloggers in future.

See more of the artists work on MINK MGMT

[via FastCo]

Today I passed a number of people waiting outside the Apple store on London’s Regent Street. These people were following the great British tradition of standing patiently in line, but these guys had brought props. Folding chairs, blankets, water bottles- they were there for the long haul. The queue was so that they could be the first to purchases the iPad 3 which officially goes on sale on March 16th in the UK.

The bizarre thing about this for me is that I seriously can’t understand what they hope to gain by this. The iPad 3 is available for pre order online and starts shipping in the UK tomorrow. I don’t know how much stock local Apple stores are going to get, but even if they sell out completely on day one, they’ll be replenished within three weeks. If you’re super keen to get an iPad 3 it’s a fair bet to say that you already own an iPad- or an iPad 2. In which case, queuing in line merely means you have wasted a silly amount of hours to upgrade to something that looks and feels pretty much the same as your current model, but with a slightly better camera and a sharper screen (a.k.a retina display).

There are some things that I understand queuing for- for instance, people who wait all night to get the latest Gears of War. Though I’m personally not a fan, I understand that if you love the game you’re super excited to play the latest release so you may queue all night so you can get a copy and THEN RUN HONE AND PLAY IT. Sure, you could wait a week extra, but if you really really love the game it’s understandable you want to play it the very instant you can. Maybe even go online and do some co-op with friends who are equal fans and have queued with you.

If the final Robert Jordan (ghostwritten by Brandon Sanderson)  book was suddenly released and I knew there would be only 100 copies in the country I’d run out and go wait in line – but if I knew that a week later I could get the book without ten hours in the cold, well, I’d probably hang on. Queues for high street designer collaborations like H&M Versace and Target Missoni are equally understandable- the stores purposefully only stock a limited amount to boost desirability, covetability and eBay racketeers sales. If you really love those designers and can’t afford the full price, queuing for some hours seems like an OK trade-off for some great gear.

What does an iPad 3 owner get for their hours of waiting? Apple doesn’t reward them with free cases or a new iPhone; they simply get an iPad that runs exactly like their old one but with a better display. Once they’ve run home and charged it they will use it EXACTLY as they used their last iPad- which is surfing, Facebook, Twitter, and ASOS- nothing has changed for them. If you’ve pre ordered it, you’ll have to wait around 2-3 weeks (current estimate) but will life really be that terrible if you’re not playing Angry Birds in HD?

Yes, it will be pretty exciting when your new email signature now reads ‘sent from my iPad 3’ but once that heady rush has faded, will those who queued really consider those hours waiting in the cold a worthwhile payoff?

I understand the desperation if there was a limited supply- but there isn’t one. There is a wait- and a short wait at that- and then you get your iPad. There is also no change to the form factor so they don’t even get The Nod of approval in the street from other cool hunters. The only real bonus I can see for these stalwart Apple fans is that when they read reviews in the press of the iPad 3 they can nod or shake their head alongside the printed word as they’ll have firsthand experience of whether they agree with the writer.

I’ve been in an Apple queue years ago when the iPhone suddenly put ‘3’ as an adjective, and this was for work purposes, as those 8 cold hours of utter boredom did not leave me feeling brightened, replenished and like my soul had been nourished with Apple-y goodness. My reasons were work related, but in the queue today I spoke to a student, a graphic designer, and someone who had two Harrods shopping bags (they didn’t explain them). All were there because they just ‘wanted one’ and none gave a reason better than that.

What makes this even sadder/stranger  is that you don’t need to queue at the Apple store to get the iPad 3- it’s also available from licensed resellers such as John Lewis, who say that ‘The new iPad available online from 12.01am on the 16 March with a two-year guarantee’ and Carphone Warehouse, who will also start selling it tomorrow. So far, there are no queues at their central London branches- the die hard iPad 3 fans seem to have a clause with their logo- they want it from the Apple store or nada.

I hope all the people in the queue manage to get their hands on the iPad3 they so desperately crave, but I still don’t get what they’ll get out of the whole experience, or how it will change their life in any way whatsoever. Perhaps it’s me who just doesn’t get it, or maybe it’s an indication of the status obsessed society we live in- where desirability is more conceptual than actual as you queue for something that you can easily get and won’t readily affect any part of your life.

Either way it’s another win for Apple, but a sad blow for the state of society today.

Readers of this site and people who know me IRL will know that I’m currently going through a small ring phase. It’s not a ‘look at that rock from Tiffany’s’ type of thing, rather an abundant fondness for all sorts of finger adornments, the geekier the better. Since I’ve been splurging/investing on Etsy/eBay/Asos I thought it only fair to share with you some of my geeklicious finds and then my shopping will come unvder the heading of ‘work’. OK, research then-maybe?

Here are five of my favourite geeky finger finds.

The telescope ring

Steampunk aficionados or any reader of China Mieville will adore this multi purpose ring. On first glance it appears a cool bronzed piece of finger candy, but once you’ve played with it it unfolds into a miniature telescope with two tiny lenses, which can also double as a magnifying glass. Oh, and there’s a compass as well- so it’s practical too!

$24.99 from Think Geek

Studio Headphone Ring

For ladies who love their tunes this sterling silver headphone ring is a great way to share the fact that you know all the obscure bands, and that you actually own a pair of real decks (OK, not necessary). I like the look of this ring- it looks surprisingly weighty and I think it’s sweet how the headphones encircle your finger.

$43 from Dark Cloud Silver

Lego Spaceman ring

Proving that you’re never to old to play with toys, and that LEGO is not just for boys, this spaceman ring adds a bit of retro bling to your fingers. White and black enamel has been fused onto brass for a solid looking ring design that makes me happy inside.

£14 from Galibardy

The Computer key ring

Less chic, more geek, these rings are created from old QWERTY keyboards. I like how they can be personalised by you choosing your name letter and they’re backed onto silver plate for a little extra class.

£12 from Not On the High Street

The Twitter Ring

Less about the birdy, more about the words, this is a ring where you can get your favourite tweets inscribed upon it. It’s a cool way to share something particularly witty with the world, or even to gift to one that you care for. Check out Tweet Rings here.

Do you have a favourite geek ring? I’m always on the hunt for more!

In the last week there has been a lot of hype about a website called Vagenda Magazine. This is surprising for two reasons; 1, the website is barely two months old, and 2, whilst funny, incisive and clever there already exists a plethora of websites that do a similar job to this site. The lure of Vagenda is that it takes everyday topics that are constantly thrown at women and breaks them down into digestible sarcastic nutshells, threaded through with humour and intelligence. Features include stuff such as ‘Your Body is a Battleground‘ and ‘Cliff Notes for Cosmo’.

I’m a fan of the site, and love that its gaining such traction even though it’s still in its infancy. The hype that has surrounded it though has made me realize that though I personally know ( and bookmark) similarly well written women’s sites, it’s possible that OTHER people may not have heard of them and be privy to their personal brand of humour, media dissection and all round snarkitude. In lieu of this alarming fact, I’m going to share with you some of the favourite female-centric sites on my bookmarks bar for you to enjoy. I realize that you may notice some major missing offenders (The F Word, before you mention it) and that’s not because these sites aren’t important or powerful or share good content, it’s that IMO they lack the entertainment factor, which is what scares so many women away from the word feminism. I’m not going to have a massive diatribe now about what that word really means or connotes, but merely share with you five websites that take a lighthearted look at women’s issues, whilst still firmly keeping up the girl power flag.

The Beheld

The tagline of this blog is ‘beauty and what it means’, and if you delve a little deeper into that phrase you get this explanation.

‘What I care about is: How does our appearance affect how we move through the world? What is the relationship between our “beauty labor” and our visibility? What can we glean from women’s history—from Cleopatra and her kohl to the “lipstick liberation” of the 1920s to Naomi Wolf’s groundbreaking 1991 book The Beauty Myth—about the role of appearance, beauty, and cosmetics in our lives? How do we experience being seen, seeing others, and seeing ourselves?’

Written by Autumn Whitefield-Madrano the blog dissects the use of beauty in today’s society, and analyzes the trends and changes in this domain. Forget fluff pieces about ‘the best way to wear red lipstick’, the blog is a though  provoking journey through top stories in the beauty industry, all with a feministing flavour and some insightful comments. Never preachy, this site is a place to share information and to muse on it, and Autumn is great in the way she allows you to make up your own mind about various issues. The topics range from the everyday to the eclectic and include features such as Thoughts on A Word where she delves into the etymology of commonly used beauty phrases like glamour or vaingloriuous, and Beauty Blogosphere round-ups that are far more detailed than the usual fluff pieces (and leave me with a browser full of open links and a feeling of guilt). Other  blog posts are more detailed- such as Modeling as Modern Day Physiognomy, but the tone remains intelligent

Check out The Beheld here.

The Hairpin

The Hairpin is edited by Edith Zimmerman and Jane Marie, and offers more than female only content; they say that it ‘is a women’s site insofar as it is run by women, will feature writing by women (although guys should absolutely feel free to get in touch too), and will be mostly read by women’. Most of the posts are slanted towards women, but there’s plenty for men to enjoy as well- for example an ode to ice cream and The Hairpin is always full of entertaining topical content. They’ll never fill their front page with academy awards information or ‘top ten black dresses’ (no disrespect to sites that do, but they are ‘fashion sites’ whilst this is more than that) and they have a great brand of wry humour that keeps you clicking back again and again. Some posts that will make you crease up are Calling Your Girlfriend and the Ask a Clean Person/ A Married Dude series which is always full of helpful advice.

Check out the Hairpin here

The Gloss

I’m going to be honest here- not everything on The Gloss is full on feminine banter material. They combine cracking articles like Why Quitting Grad School was the best decision I made with pieces such as Handbag Porn (an actual handbag) and Sexiest Quote of the Week. You (OK, I mean I) let them get away with the fluff pieces beacuse of their generally awesome take on beauty and fashion, and the twisted yet winderful way their writers minds work. For example, a fashion piece entitled ‘How to dress like you’ve been plucked  from a Renoir painting’ and Friday Style Icon: She-Ra Princess of Power. They also look at the reason why Adele’s song makes everyone cry (with science) and their style is more drinks withe the girls, than Carrie’s ineffectual musings. They describe themselves, ‘proving that wit and sophistication go together like oysters and champagne’, Jennifer Wright, Editor In Chief sets the tone for the site, which is part whispered conversation and part female analysis of media trends.

Check out the Gloss here.

Vagenda Magazine

I can’t NOT mention Vagenda Magazine in an article inspired by it, and it’s a pretty good read. A team of 10 odd writers make up the team, and most of them have chosen to stay anonymous.

Stories tend to focus around current topical issues, and anything seen in the media that one of the writers have an issue with. This means that posts can be a simple photo upload with a caption- such as ‘It’s really Not OK‘ in retaliation to a piece in Glamour about why it is OK , to hip hop lyrics that don’t involve d***ing on women‘  and questioning how  the latest Pixar’s Princess doesnt fit the mould with the launch of a new Pixar film where the heroine hates dresses, has red hair, and a Scottish accent. I’m personally more of a fan of the longer thought pieces, but I appreciate that the cute images and captions will appeal to the Tumblr generation, who like their news in small snippets and the mere fact of mockery takes the sting out of many of the messages that we’re constantly given.

The description of the site (the first ever post) states; ‘We are feminists. No, we don’t care what you do with your pubic hair (and we really wish the Guardian would stop telling us to). Some of us, having either worked or undergone modern-day slave labour at some of the publications we’ll be ridiculing, would like to avoid biting the hand that feeds us and remain anonymous. Others won’t. But all of us (and we are many) passionately believe that we have created something that is very much needed.’

XOJANE

I know the inclusion of XOJane may raise a few eyebrows. If you’re unfamiliar with the site (and why it may raise said brows) I’ll give you a brief overview. Headed by Jane Pratt, the ex editor of Sassy and Jane Magazine (both amazing insightful tomes in their time) the site covers a broad remit of female focused topics. It varies from first person stories of cosmetic surgery gone wrong to columns like I’m tired of apologizing for liking Girl stuff. The celebrity news is varied and has funny make-under features- look what they did to Sammi from Jersey Shore. They also did a really cool project recently, called the Real Bellies project which compile non-photoshopped images of women’s stomachs, and shared how different we all look.

The main controversy of the site seems to reside with their beauty editor Cat Marnell, A self proclaimed drug junkie, Adderall fan and self admitted mentalist (in a nice way), Cat’s columns can be.. um, controversial. Her writing reads like a train of consciousness emerging from a deep bath and her prose sends out positive messages about the benefits of drugs to make you skinny and why she won’t not talk about Whitney Houston’s death. Her tagline on that piece was, ‘When Whitney died, I wasn’t surprised: women are using drugs all around you, and I’m one of them. Now why am I not allowed to talk about it again?’ Her writing is very raw and visceral, but  it’s odd to see so many pro-drug sharing on a professional website. That’s part of the charm of the site- AND why people decry it. The issue isn’t so much Cat’s drug abuse but the way she’s unapologetic about it, and whilst I find this refreshing, many people may think this ‘glamourizes’ her not so healthy lifestyle. Half the time I love her, half the time I’m like ‘Why would you share that on the interweb?‘, but her bravery/ schitzo-ness make her columns entertaining and a refreshingly honest read- and I want more honesty on the web.

The tagline of the site is  ’xoJane.com is where women go when they are being selfish, and where their selfishness is applauded. This is not the place to find out how to please your husband, mom, kids or boss. This is the place to indulge in what makes you feel good. We are not snarky, but inclusive and uplifting, while remaining nothing but honest at all times. ‘ I’m a fan, but not everyone will be, but that’s OK- there are a lot of options in this article!

Other great web reads

Other sites that deserve a mention here but that don’t make it onto the list are Jezebel, BitchBuzz*, Dollymix*, Psychologies* and Virginia Sole Smith. These all offer a lot of great content but don’t have the same slightly abrasive humour as the ones listed above. They are all worth a read though- you might discover something you really love on these platforms.

Disclaimer: I have written for the sites that have an asterisk next to their name.

Header image source; Lol Caption

Cuba is an island full of anachronisms. It exists in the 21st century, yet much of it is stuck in the 1950′s, as the last time they were allowed free trade with the USA was 1960. Castro may rule, but it’s Che Guevara images that adorn most walls, and the citizens are a complex blend of poverty and pride, supported by the state’s free education and healthcare system, but deprived in other areas.

The weather is warm, the sea full of fish for a constant food supply and though an anti American air pervades the country, pride is taken in owning USA goods- microwaves and Juicy Couture clothes are luxury items. How do you manage to take in the full breadth of the country in a mere two weeks? It’s a difficult task, especially as I wasn’t prepared to compromise my need for culture with that of comfort- I wanted to soak up the atmosphere, not quickly tick off historical monuments whilst rushing from A-B.

To make the most of everything that Cuba has to offer- from the inspiring tributes to Che Guevara and the most famous beaches in the world, I started my trip at a beach resort on the island of Cayo Coco.

Cayo Coco – the paradise resort

Beloved of honeymooners worldwide, Cayo Coco offers fifteen miles of beautiful beaches. Set slightly away from the mainland, you access Cuba mainland by driving along a man made causeway that extends into the sea and connects Cayo Coco to the rest of the country. Locals aren’t allowed to visit Cayo Coco unless they are working at one of the resorts dotted around the island, so it’s a strangely insular experience- you’re served by Cubans, talk to Cuban entertainers, yet separated from them by class. Working on Cayo Coco is deemed a privilege as salaries tend to be higher than other places in the country and it’s not uncommon to find that your maid has a better degree than you do.

What to do on Cayo Coco

The biggest reason for heading to Cayo Coco are the beaches so make the most of them. Every resort had an individual beach and you’re a short drive away from Pilar Beach- rated No 1 in the world by numerous magazines, and apparently the place Ernest Hemingway chose to stay when he visited.

The beaches are covered in fine golden sand and rather narrow, with the water a crystalline azure blue. This was my first experience of Caribbean waters and I marvelled at how warm the water felt- day or night, it was like immersing yourself in bathwater, and I was  buffeted by warm  light waves and felt weightless and cosseted. The coastline of Cayo Coco is adjacent to some great coral reefs and the water is very clear, so even when you’re very shallow you can see smalls schools of fish around your ankles. All resorts offer (free) snorkeling rental and there’s a lot of Finding Nemo action you can see hidden behind the swell of the waves.

The resorts tend to be all inclusive, so they actually offer a lot of useful amenities to do with the water- free kayak rental, free pedalos and they’ll also take you out to the beginning of the coral on a small boat for free. To stay longer than 30 minutes you do need to pay, but an extra 2 hours on the reef works out at about £6 an hour. You can also rent horses from your resort beach and an hour cantering through the waves costs around £7. The horses are well maintained and looked after with sleek glossy coats and friendly neighs, and their owners are a funny pair of locals, wearing cowboy hats and flip flops, with broad sun-bleached faces and gap toothed smiles.

You can’t visit Cayo Coco without a trip to the famous Pilar beach- and to get there your hotel arranges a shuttle bus for a small fee (£1) which departs at various hours daily. The ride is entertaining- you get to sit in an open top bus and feel the wind whip your hair. You pass through Flamingo Bay on the drive, an area that’s an ACTUAL flamingo farm, and their graceful pink bodies fill the water like flowers whilst Pilar beach looms ahead. Accessed via a small wooden walkway, the first thing that strikes you about the beach is the quietness. Though a fair few people cover its sun drenched shores, there’s a strange aura of mystique and peace about it. There’s a bar at the entrance which serves ice cream and alcohol, and the beach is made up of the usual deck chairs and covers. The water is a liquid bliss, a beautiful turquoise gold flecked shade and the horizon seems to go on forever.

My Hotel: Blue Bay Cayo Coco

Blue Bay Cayo Coco hotel itself has its fair share of amenities for people who want to make the most of the beautiful weather. It features a spa, tennis courts a pool room and its own pools, as well as a rental room which lets out books and board games to guests. Every night they have a ‘show’, which varies from cabaret style dancing to comedy, and tends to be very family orientated but with huge flamboyant costumes.

[The dining area and the buffet]

My hotel is fairly atypical of hotels on Cayo Coco and it featured four restaurants. Three were open during my stay there (depends on the season) and the food varied in each one. The main buffet restaurant was open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and featured a variety of hot and cold dishes with a chef that created custom pasta and fresh fish daily, and the pool bar was beloved for serving booze and chips. The classiest option was the fine dining venue where you had to book in at time slots and got Cuba style silver service. Food was filling but a little bland and I longed for some extra spices to give it more zest.

Snorkeling, James Bond boating and deep sea fishing

Cayo Coco is surrounded by coral reefs, but they do exist a fair bit away from the shore. Diving is on offer, but I chose to go on a snorkeling trip. There are a lot of fish on offer and you can also opt to drive a speedboat to a well known snorkeling area – called the James Bond experience!

Trips from Cayo Coco

Cayo Coco is lovely, and a a great place to catch up on your jet lag, but you can’t stay in tropical island world forever. The hotel I stayed at works with the Thomas Cook tour operator to provide relatively cheap excursions into Cuba, and I happily signed up to some. It might be slightly cheating touristy style, but they offer coaches and accommodation for the trips, whilst the alternative is renting a car and getting lost- buses and trains are not particularly reliable if you’re somewhere remote.

Trinidad Overnight stay with Cienfuegos visit,  Dolphin Show and Che Monument

I booked in for the two day your which allowed you to visit the ancient cities of Trinidad and Cienfuegos. After an interminable time on the coach trip- around 8 hours cross country- I arrived at the first spot of Trinidad. Trinidad was a bit if a culture shock after the five star resort; it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988 which basically means they’ve allowed it to become rundown and call that culture rater than decrepitude.

It was the closest I’d been to a shanty town since Thailand, with people sitting in doorways begging, and once proud buildings in various states of disrepair. A few hours was all we need to traverse the city and take in the unflinching poverty of the nation and admire the fading colonial houses. The architecture was beautiful but the ambiance was that of desperation with everyone we met desperate to sell us wares, from lace shawls to cigars and donkey rides. I felt uncomfortable there, and was happy to get back on the air conditioned coach for my next stop. Maybe it’s different if you’re a ‘real’ traveller here, but as a tourist it raised many wary signs in me, and  though strangely picturesque had the feeling of a town on its last legs.

The next port of call was CienFuegos, a much more ‘Westernized city’, and I was again honked at by the Coconut cars that littered the streets. The main promenade saw a strange abundance of Western-ish shops though a few customs were new to me, such as checking in my handbag prior to entry to the stores ‘just in case’, and paying a coat check to keep it safe. Shops sold a mixture of toiletries and washing machines- all luxury goods and the food was very tasty. I managed to get in a line for a local ice slush puppy, and though I’m sure my £1 was way over the local price it went down a treat, a melting mouthful of fruity flavours.

I also admired the seafront, through there wasn’t much accessibility and admired the giant ex-casino next to my hotel (pictured above)- once a port for international gamblers and it is now a building for majestic events and high profile locals. This was an area I really enjoyed and would have liked to have mire time to explore, but that’s part of the tour problem, so after a night of rest we were hurried on to the next activity..which was-

The Cuba Dolphinarium!

Always a fan of dolphins, I signed up immediately for a swimming activity with them. I thought this might be Sea World style rubbish where you merely pat and pay, but so much more was involved. from splashing hands in the water to have the dolphins cheep back their whale(ish) song to holding their fins as they towed me round the ocean was an experience I’ll hold forever. They also lifted me full in the air, which was incredible- I was told to lie as flat as a board and two dolphins came beneath each foot, adjusted for my weight and voila, I was performing a circus trick. You can argue about the morality of using dolphins like this, but when I wanted extra (paid) time I was told the dolphins were too tired and then we watched (different ones)  them perform a magic show for us with hoop jumping and hula hooping just for kicks. It cost around 30 UKP and pictures (which I opted out of ) were another £20. I’d suggest this to anyone, I’ve never felt so close to these animals before and I loved every moment!

The Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara

This was the last stop on my two day trip and was extremely eerie. After being searched for cameras and valuables we were admitted into this museum/crypt and could look through letters and clothing of Che in his days. Photos of him as a young man were the most interesting but it was frustrating how most of the correspondence had not been translated into English for us. The area features an enormous stone statue of Che which I had to get a picture of and a weird chapel where you have to be silent as you walk along the memorials mounted into the walls.

There were posters up everywhere about the ‘Cuban Five’ which we were informed were Cuban people who were captured by the Americans for spying. The fact that they were spying didn’t seem to be the issue, more that their spying was protecting Cuba so they needed to be freed- a bit surreal. The tour guide went off on a monologue about how an American naval ship blew up killing all passengers- but this was done on purpose so they could blame the Cubans. Unsure what to believe, I was happy to have a British passport on me. It was eerie being there, but uncomfortable as well, as I’d been led to believe that many Cubans wanted to reopen trade routes and connect with America again, but the angry men with guns and their anti establishment beliefs told a different story.

Havana

The Havana airport was shockingly close to the main town centre and the taxi journey took around ten minutes. I was sad not to be driven in a retro car as they were so plentiful on the streets, their strange big bonnets smiling up at me, and their chassis framed in a perpetual twinkle- or was its a sneer? Little ‘coconut cars’ littered the streets, small yellow electrified rickshaws with an odd yellow shell that gave them their moniker. The place was far brighter than the sleepy island- colours seem to pop more and differences in stone were more prominent. There were the same torn facades and displays of what once was proud, but here there was a lot more upkeep- made striking by the level of disrepair in the house adjacent to a renovated building.

Havana Guesthouse vs. hotel

When you stay in Havana you have a few options for accommodation. You can stay in a hotel- of which they have many- or you can opt for a more authentic guesthouse experience. Here you’re actually staying in someone’s house where they rent out two to five rooms, and you enter via their living room. The place I stayed in was called Casa Miriam Hostal Colonial (after lots of TripAdvisor research) and looked terrible from the outside. Broken stones, no discernible doorknob- I stood in the street wishing I’d gone for a real hotel after all. Finally, the door opened and I was led up a crumbling stone staircase, through a grated door and into a wide open room with high ceiling, wood panelling and framed family photos on the wall. It was crazy- the difference from outside to in, but that’s the beauty of Havana- you need to look at everything twice. My room was large with a marble en-suite bathroom and I could order food or my clothes washed from the family that lived there. I loved the wide balcony that came off the lounge quarter as it was amazing to view Havana from the middle of the streets, and I liked how the lounge was full of free guides and books about the local area.

Havana Old quarter and El Malecon

The Havana Malecon was on every single Havana to do list that I read, yet was strangely disappointing, The Malecon is a sea boulevard that’s roughly 7km long, and provides a long walk along the Havana coastline. Some of it is scenic- fisherman hooking their lines, coconut cars cheerily beeping as they drive by; but a lot of this promenade walk is desolate buildings, crumbling architecture and a uncomfortable sense that you may have stepped into the ‘bad’ side of town (this depends where on the Malecon you are). At night it’s pretty to see the sunset, and the sea front becomes a bizarre hang out for locals, with women selling popcorn and beer to the surly yet well dressed teens that line the wall. It’s odd- there are no activities going on, no music whatsoever, just a primp and preen parade, where young Havana men walk up in groups of three or more observing the Juicy Couture/ lycra clad tweens/ladies sitting on the wall and nodding at each other. As mating rituals go it’s an odd one as there’s no incentive to keep going to the Malecon- no bars, no clubs, and no real food stands, yet this peacock display of youth is quite entertaining to watch. Oddly enough, this preening sits side by side five year olds looking at the view, so it’s an odd cultural mash up of courting and its long term effects.

I also took a turn through old Havana, where the building are in better shape and you can happily stroll down picturesque side streets with cobbled floors and smiling men who try and tempt you into their heavenly scented restaurants. Their are strange cathedrals you’ll wander across, old forts and unusual statues where you wish you could interpret what the words say. It’s tiring to do this- the streets are longer than you think and the heat is relentless but it’s a nice way to get a feel of ‘real Havana’, even if it’s comparative to hanging out in Trafalgar Square in London ( but with a lot more space).

Tropicana in Havana

In the Tropicana the drinks ARE free, but that’s only because your entrance price includes half a bottle of rum (and some sliced meat). Once your inside you’ll be astounded by how much neon you can pack into a room, with dazzling displays of feathers and lush colours that are bright enough to burn. The Tropicana gained its fortune through its extravagance and it’s a world away from the rest of Havana. Situated down a long tree-lined road, once you pull up you’re greeted by a shining metallic exterior, with polished marble floors at the entrance, leading into a large outdoor amphitheatre behind. Here you are seated around the stage at various tables-often sharing- but all seats are good seats as there’s not just one stage, so you’re constantly turning your head to take it all in. From dances featuring sixty odd people dressed in feathers, to gymnastic stunts featuring two men performing Cirque du Soleil acts, it’s non stop, and two hours later you’re dizzy at how much has gone on. The stage then turns into a dance floor and the bar is open for a while, so prepared to hang out all night should you choose. It may bee expensive, but this made the free hotel shows seem like Kindergarten work, and how often will you be in Havana?

Partagas Cigar Factory tour and Havana Club Rum Museum Tours

No trip to Havana is possible without some tourist attractions, so it’s just great that the ones here revolve around smoking and alcohol! The Havana Club Rum museum was interesting as we were taken through the whole process of rum distillation and got to look at giant barrels made for carrying it, and a cute model plantation with working model railway to demonstrate how rum was produced in sugar cane plantation days. The tour finished with a stop at the bar where we were given a cup of rum to taste. I downed mine much to the shock of the guide, who said that ten year old aged rum needed to be sipped-oops.

The Partagas Cigar Factory tour was a more instructional experience, as it was a real-time production factor, so it was strange to move around people hard at their work, fingers industriously separating and skinning leaves or clamping them in presses. I learnt a lot about the process about creating cigars and how different brand have special flavouring techniques. I was bizarrely accosted on the stairs by workers hissing they could sell me some ‘cheap cigars, good price’ which I found strange, then I learnt that all workers get given 2 cigars a day to take home, and this might be where they got them. A cigar might sell full price for the amount these guys earn in  day (or more, the factory people are well paid compared to local Cubans) so underground cigar selling is a huge industry. It’s recommended you only buy cigars from proper retailers, but I was offered cigars about twenty times an hour from everyone the street- my pale skin clearly marking me as a tourist.

Havana Zoo

Havana Zoo is not something you’ll ever see in any guidebook and that’s because it’s not considered part of- or suitable for- the tourist track. Entrance was around £1, and the Zoo was large and sprawling- but very decrepit with animals kept in conditions that would have the RSPCA clamouring to be heard. Lions lounged in tiny pens, I witnessed monkeys kept in cages the size of a fridge and saw animals poked and prodded ( often by locals) in a way that made your heart ache. I do understand that there’s not much money for upkeep of the zoo, but I’d then question why have one if you’re going to keep animals in such a way. There was also no rest areas for visitors, and I found it difficult to buy a drink as they only accepted the ‘local’ Cuban currency.

[A different towel shape every day- what happens when you tip!]

Tips for a great Cuban Trip

• Pack for the elements. You may be used to sun abroad but this is Cuban sun and chances are you will get very very burnt. They do sell sun tan lotion but it tends to be low SPF, so be sure to bring a couple of bottles of SPF 30 and SPF 50 with you.
• The currency can be confusing and you currently can only buy it when you land. There are many places selling it though, so don’t stress about this to much. There are two types of currency- the Cuban Peso (CUP), and Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC). The CUC is just for tourists as you can’t buy the CUP anywhere and it’s unlikely you’ll get any. This may seem odd, but most places you’ll go too will assess you and charge you accordingly- it’s not unknown for a cafe to have two menus, with great price differences if you’re a resident or a tourist.
• Crabs,- the fish kind. Go to any beach and you’ll find it dotted with holes- these are crab holes and you’ll see crabs scuttling about! They won’t harm you unless you attack them and if you’re quiet and go out at sunset you may see some massive ones- I saw some as big as my head which was really exciting.
• Cuban Tipping Etiquette- it’s often hard to know how to tip and how much, so I’ll share a few pointers. It differs based on where you are, as resort tipping is a new arena. It’s good to tip around 10% of what an item costs on a menu, but when in a hotel you tip variably. It’s nice to leave the maid a sum daily- start with a large amount (say £5) and then decrease and you’ll notice service and towels are always very prompt. Some people like to tip at the end instead, but I suggest that you tip as you go along, to not get ill will. When going to dinner, also tip the man who seats you and serves you- again, on a resort, start high, go lower, finish high. It may seem weird to constantly tip, but the currency exchange is so favourable that you really don’t lose out that much.
• The Cuban coin scam- People will approach you and try to sell you a ‘special’ coin with Che Guevara on it. It looks cool, but it’s actually LOCAL currency and worth about a penny, so if you must have it as a souvenir don’t spend a lot on it!

I flew to Cuba with Thomas Cook Airlines, and two weeks accommodation and flights for two to stay at Cayo Coco cost £1580. Return flights to Havana were £120 per person, and accommodation in a Havana guest house cost £20 a night.

All pictures were taken by me, please do not use without crediting.

The infamous day of love is now over, so a nation can breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the ‘romantic’ re-runs Television producers spew out this time of year. I’d like to suggest a slightly less obvious way to keep the romance alive, and this involves some robotic smooching. If that pleases you, of course.

The Kissenger is a robot created by the Lovotics teams (you can tell from the name that this will be good) and is designed to look like a miniature pig. Think more Babe, Pig in the City than Napoleon from Animal Farm, and this little piggy really wants to go to market (market being a crude innuendo for your lips).

The Kissenger pig robot has silicon pads on its fake robot mouth which are ‘ultra sensitive to people lips’ (No, I have zero idea how they worked this out but I bet the behind the scenes footage is amazing!). The plan is you and your long distance love both have one of these slightly cute creatures and hook them up to Skype. You then look meaningfully into each others eyes and start to make out with the robot. They even helpfully come in pink and blue colours so you know just which is the girl and boy-bot. Lovotics want you to ‘transfer kissing over distance’, and you can actually do this with or without a webcam. The Kissenger transfers your lip movements to the matching Kissenger so you get the same (ish) feel of when you’re making out with your partner. No, they don’t mention how tongue works, so we just won’t go there.

They also have a video demo of it in action, and as well as questionable music choice it makes it look like you’re getting tiny electric shocks everytime you press your pout to the silicon pads.

One of the best parts of the product description is when they mention that the Kissenger allows for the  ‘Human to Robot kiss: enabling an intimate relationship with a robot, such technology provides a new facility for closer and more realistic interactions between humans and robots.  In this scenario, one set of artificial lips is integrated in a humanoid robot.‘ Sounds like someone might be working on a human sized plaything.. perhaps?

They also suggest that the Kissenger could provide kissing options to online gaming, where ‘humans can kiss virtual characters while playing games and receive physical kisses from their favorite virtual characters.’ I can’t even begin to start punning here or I’ll never stop, so I’ll just list a few online games that *might* think to use this tool.

• Final Fantasy
• World of War (think of the alternate spelling) Craft
• FarmVille (hey, people love to play this, and the Kissenger does look like a pig)

OK, that’s out my system now. What do you think? I’m a little creeped out by kissing a robot even if I was looking at my boyfriend on Skype and the idea of making out with a pig without even a camera seems surreal. It may be the only way for long distance people to really connect though, so should we celebrate this- or just worry/imagine all the other related things that are being created now?

Let me know what you think!

Find out more about this on the Lovotics website where there is currently no price. [via CBA]