The New Normal

I wrestled with this post for 2 whole months, Specsavers had generously fixed me up with a new pair of glasses for it which was originally pitched as a mum makeover type piece. To give you context, I am due back to work next month as my maternity leave comes to an end, and boy is this a time of such mixed emotions. Settling Arthur into his new long term routine aside, the emotional impact it can have on a mum can be huge. Do I even know who I am anymore? Can I get us ready in time in the morning? Am I capable of interacting with adults or will I sing twinkle twinkle at them? What do I put in a bag if not Sophie the giraffe and 6 types of rice cakes?

I kept panicking that I hadn't had a moments peace to put make up on, have my hair cut, find clothes and good lighting and get the photos needed to illustrate the post to showcase my new specs, but then I realised.... Why does it need to be an uber shiny version of me, when that is just not real life? By doing all that am I not just perpetuating the idea that mum's have it all together and look how we can juggle it all while looking fabulous! When for me,this is far from the reality and Specsavers hadn't ask me to get all dolled up in order to show off the gorgeous Boss frames I chose. I just felt that I should. When I got these glasses, I was the same tired, sweaty, unmade up face that I have been all year, but when I picked these beauties out they brought me exactly the renewed confidence I was looking for without needing to add a full face of make up and a blow dry. I wanted to look more polished without actually having to add any steps to my already mad schedule, and I wanted to feel grown up and not just someone's mum. These really made me feel more me than I had in a long time.

I had been previously in a flap about the 'me' who was returning to work. I haven't worn make up past mascara and eyebrow make up all year, no foundation, blusher or any of the little products I would usually apply and do you know what, I have loved it! Aside from having no time to fit it in anyway, it has just felt right for me. But I realised I was panicking about returning to work and having to go back to the usual face I would apply before. But why did that make me uneasy? So with a rare hour off on a Saturday morning while Ally was out on  a walk with Arthur, I thought just do it now, take the photos and get on with it. So I treated myself and dabbed on a tiny bit of highlighter and plonked myself in front of a window and snapped away. Seeing how my new frames add a boldness to my semi bare face has reminded me that I don't have to be anything other than what makes me happy. The wild post-partum baby hair, the patchy skin, hormonal spots etc are all who I am and that is just fine. I should celebrate who I am comfortable being now, and top that with a damn fine pair of specs!!

As always I was just delighted with the service down at Specsavers Trongate. I had been warned my eyesight  might change when pregnant buuut post baby I definitely noticed things were no longer looking crisp. However I wasn't expecting the huge change that my sight had gone through and turns out my prescription had changed hugely. I was delighted when the optician showed me my new lenses and the difference was mad.  It is well worth getting checked post baby.

Frames wise there was the usual stonking range, including a new one to me Eco Eyewear, every frame in there was just a little dream. Colour, texture and beautiful shapes, really fantastic for using with their famous 2 for 1 deal. Seeing as I was going back to work though I wanted a pair that was smart, goes with everything but still with a bit of interest. Step in the Boss Orange frames and they were all so sleek. I couldn't resist this pair with their business in the front, party on the sides appeal thanks to their subtle tortoiseshell legs. I love how they frame my mostly make up free face and just make me feel pulled together even when on the inside I feel far from it!! Exactly what a pair of glasses should be able to do.

Thank you specsavers for helping me realise that a maw makeover didn't need to be glitz and glamour, just a more polished, happier version of yourself who happens to be a mum!

Prescription Sunglasses with Specsavers

I have been a glasses wearer since I was tiny,  I can still remember showing up to playgroup aged 4 and being upset that my pals couldn’t recognise me as I was suddenly wearing glasses and they were confused by them! In the years since I have had a complicated relationship with my eyesight, spending my teenage years HATING my glasses and pretty  much never wearing them, which has done nothing for my vision or my forehead wrinkles from squinting come to think of it. A big part of the reason was definitely my ugly old NHS specs which were hardly chic and just made me want to wear them even less. As I got older and accepted I really couldn’t see much, especially while at uni sitting far away from boards, I took buying my own glasses into my own hands and finally fell in love with trips to Specsavers. The quality of the more affordable ranges there, as well as the two for one offer, meant that picking out frames was actually something to look forward to and not dread, and for the last ten years my glasses have probably always been the most exciting part of most of my outfits! I love a bold frame J

So with all that learning to love my glasses I have done over the years…..why then has it taken me 28 years to realise prescription sunglasses might change my life!!?? It wasn’t until I decided to enter the world of learning to drive and navigating the lessons in burning November sunshine in Glasgow     (why never in summer though damnit!), that I clicked that prescription sunglasses were exactly what I was going to need. Handily timing wise I was invited along to the Specsavers press showcase to get a look at the new Balmain range and It was enough for me to decide the time was now. The styles in the range are just truly flawless, I am often in and out of Specsavers just to check out the new frames as they really have had some amazing collaborators in recent years, but the Balmain one is a true stand out for me. Ally is a big glasses fan and is always quick to tell me what does and doesn’t work on my face shape ( I have no idea where this niche life skill has come from), an and even he was pretty set that all of the Balmain’s were phenomenal styles. I was really impressed with the colours, shapes and of course….the legs. There is a hint of retro but remaining stylish and really expensive looking, which I love when they are around £169 for two pairs in the offer.

I could not resist the chunky, black, bold sunglasses from the range for getting my lenses in, the almost slightly art deco nod on the legs and the glamour of the frames really sold me. They just feel so timeless and elegant  to wear, that I am definitely going to need  get a convertible so I can properly show them off when out and about :) I chose to upgrade and add polarised lenses which I knew very little about before, but after trying on a set for comparison in store I realised just what a difference they could make to the glare issues I had been experiencing, plus they stop the sunglasses from feeling as actually dark as they normally do. I sometimes find that a bit disorienting which is not what I need when tackling driving which already makes me nervous. So having a lighter and clearer field of vision felt like a solid investment, plus all the staff in store who have them genuinely raved about the difference and I was dying to try them out. I am so glad that I did as from the moment I put them on the difference was incredibly noticeable. I really cant believe as such a glasses wearing fan that it has taken me so long to make the commitment to sunglasses that are not just a fun accessory,being able to actually enjoy wearing them means I will wear them far more often which is long overdue considering the damage I know the sun can do to the eyes.

I can’t thank Alyssa from Specsavers Trongate branch enough as she was exceptionally patient with me while I selected the best frames to go for and talk me through the options and making sure my new pair fit me correctly. If I hadn’t been so captivated by the Balmain range at the launch event, I still would have no problem selecting as the sunglasses range even in winter was really fantastic, there were quite a few pairs that really made it a tough choice. Like this standard frame range, even the lower end of the scale in the £69 group are really eye-catching numbers that look far more expensive and again count as a two for one deal. At those prices I am even more mad I didn’t do this far sooner!

I can’t sing the praises of the Specsavers gang enough, I am delighted to finally feel like a functioning grown up who can actually see in all weathers. Thing is I love these new beauties so much I just want to wear them constantly which is a strong look when indoors :) The best part is....I actually passed my driving test so now these are my most important accessory.

TOOT TOOT! 

Seeing Clearly thanks to Specsavers

I would have had no idea my eyes were overdue a test if it wasn't for Specsavers getting in touch to remind me... and then again to refresh that memory when I still hadn't booked in....!! Considering how long I spend sitting in front of a computer ( and my passion for specatular frames) you would think checking my eyes were in tip top health would be my top priority but with everything going on I just kept putting off getting it booked. It took an AMAZING event with Specsavers to get me giddy again for sorting myself out. The whole evening was wonderfully organised and not only had really amazing wall to wall frames on show (and the absolutely best buffet a blogger could ask) but it was also all nestled into the fab surroundings of the Bo Concept store.

Having pored over the new collections from Love Moschino, Max & Co, Specsavers and the new Cath Kidston range. I knew it was time for a change. At the event I had picked out a whole handful of new potential frames so I was itching to get in store and try them on properly. I used the super handy online booking system to sort out a visit to the Sauchiehall street for my free eye test and was so surprised at just how busy first thing on a Sunday morning could be! I headed along a little early with ally to take a look at frames before my eye test as I knew my indecision meant it would take me an age to narrow down the wide choice and I am glad I did as you are so spoiled for choice in there.

Taking in all the technology in store, that is the back of my actual eye!!

I had no idea having an eye test could be so fun, but what a lovely bunch they are in the Sauchiehall Street store. I actually learnt a whole lot with the optometrist as she explained what she was doing and why, I felt totally relaxed and comfortable as we went through the various tests and it was fun seeing how improved my vision was as various lenses were tried. The whole thing is over pretty quickly and when she showed me my new final prescription that was a change from my current one, I was so surprised how much clearer everything was! 

With the new prescription all set up it was time to actually make a choice on my frames and lucky for the staff my earlier playing around meant I had it narrowed down to oh...... 6 pairs!!! The assistant in the shop was so so nice and assured me people always get stuck at this point and was amazing help with giving me her honest opinion and handily it was the same as Ally's ( who is a  demon when it comes to being able to read face shapes weirdly!) so the deal was done. With so much competition it was super tough but I settled on a beautiful blue Cath Kidston pair with the coolest floral legs and  I couldn't help but splash out on an additional plain blue tortoiseshell pair as my back up pair for the house which was from Specsavers own frames and a bargain at £69 including the lenses. I was told it would take a week to arrive and I was down there 7 days on the dot to pick them up as I was just too excited! The same lovely assistant got the fit just perfect and even tightened up my sunglasses that were giving me grief ( which reminds me, this is definitely the year I finally get prescription sunglasses!!) and I walked out absolutely delighted not just with the look but with my renewed sharper vision!!

accidentally matching my amazing new frames!

I really enjoyed my Specsavers experience and much like their branding says, I  really do 'love my glasses'. If you have had bother with your eye sight or are just putting off getting an updated test, now is the definitely the time to pop in and put it right. You won't be disappointed!