Feminist Friday Theme XVIII: Reverse Sexism

Image from ClanofSimons.Blogspot.com

This week's Feminist Friday theme is my SIL's suggestion; she wants to know about reverse sexism; her example was that I refuse to be Mrs. NotBlondeHusband but would I be okay with NBH being Mr. Blondie? What about "Mr Mom?" How do you feel about reverse sexism?


If the theme doesn't speak to you please write on any feminist topic!

The Feminist Friday Round-up

Here's how it works. Write a blog about being a feminist mom, raising a feminist child, a rant or anything that falls under the realm of the theme for the week. You don't have to be a mom or parent to participate. Come back and link your post and post the button on your blog.


That's it.
You don't even have to be a blogger to take part - just send me your post and I will publish it on my blog for you. You don't even have to include your name if you prefer.


When you've published it, come back on Friday and via a widget thing you can add a link to your post and share it with everyone. The link remains open for 4 days.


Visit others, comment if you like them or feel inspired by them. Just go out and encourage and support other feminist Moms or future feminist Moms.


The more support you give, the more you will get back! I can't wait to meet and interact with other feminist moms around the world!

The X Factor: First Live Show

The X Factor is live and the first theme is "Britain vs. America" which isn't really a theme at all since 90% of music on the radio is from the US or UK. It's like saying tonight's theme is "Fast vs. Slow;" either have a proper theme or don't okay?


The Big Twist isn't bringing back contestants after all (so why was Kelly Rowland in Fife?) but instead there will be no public vote this week. They used to do the same waaay back in the early days of American Idol so not that exciting if you ask me. Bring on the singing!


Amelia Lily

What is with the pink hair? First the girl on BINTM and now her as well? I do think she looks loads better with less make-up. Who lets a 16 year old go bleach blonde and wear 2 tons of makeup? Oh for the love of Bubbles she's singing Billie Jean? I love Michael Jackson and I love a bit of punk-rock covers but this is just not well thought out and it is NOT good.  Also pink hair plus red jacket clashes in my book; just saying.




Johnny Robinson

Okay so I'm guessing the X Factor vocal coach didn't get a chance to teach him about singing from his chest and not his nose? I feel bad for him because honestly he's not good enough to be on the stage. I guess Louis is treating him like Wagner 2.0 and figure that is he goes camp enough with enough dancers in tight clothes he'll go through. He does look like he is having the time of his life though so good for him I guess? OMG did you see Kelly's polite tennis clap? LOVE IT.


Rhythmix

I'm going to go ahead and say it I was more impressed with Sophia Grace singing Super Bass than these girls and her rapping skills were way better. If you aren't a rapper you should not try to rap. The harmony at the end was good but just didn't make any sense. Also what is up with Tulisa's blonde roots with brown hair? Is that a new trend I've missed because it looks really stupid.


Frankie Cocozza

First I have to say I HATE his hair; comb-overs are don't look good on old men nor do they look good young men. I also hate this song; I thought it was that whiny James Blunt until I listened and realized it was about drugs and Officer Blunt wouldn't dare sing about drugs. I'd have to say using the term "sing" to describe what Frankie did tonight is stretching it; he just huskily spoke through it and I did not like it. Real artist Gary? Not so much.


Sophie Habibis

Didn't Kelly say she was singing a song by the biggest act in the UK right now? Did I not hear her right? I was expecting Adele not the very American Katy Perry. She looks great and her shoes are freaking amazing but I think they've slowed the song down too much. Sophie can obviously sing but it's just too sleepy for my taste. If Simon was there he'd say it was indulgent.


Jonjo Kerr

Even the girls grinding without their poles behind him can't distract from how bad this is. He does not have the voice, style or confidence to pull off the Kinks. Does anyone remember Tabby from the 1st series of the X Factor? He could sing the Kinks, Jonjo can not. The buttoned up suit did not work at all with the song either.


Two Shoes

I'm glad they got out of the car because you couldn't see them but then they got out and I saw they had on 25lbs pounds of makeup. Oy. It's not bad but it also sounds exactly like the original version. I don't really have much else to say which can't be a good thing. I second Kelly though; where the hell is Romford?




James Michael

I don't remember him from any of the audition shows and based on this I'm not surprised. It's so ho-hum and not powerful I just want to fast forward. Another slowed down, sleepy song that has been changed up for the worse. If you are going to sing something as classic as a Beatles song you have to kill it; he didn't kill it he murdered it.




Misha B

Another "biggest artist in the UK" from Kelly; I'm thinking Adele again but will assume its another American.  Okay it is Adele but why is she dressed like what I imagine Rupert Murdoch would look like in drag--part newspaper, part evil queen? She's not a bad singer but she's very affected and over stylised in her singing which makes it very unpleasant to listen to if I'm honest.


Nu Vibe

Okay first I have to say normally when I hear this song I change the station or the channel. I can not and will not support Chris Brown in any way shape or form. I really, really hope he is not getting any royalties or benefits from them singing this song. I don't boycott much but I boycott him.  Now that is out of the way I think their performance was old fashioned and they were trying too hard to look like a boy band and the vocals fell flat. Even the styling seems so five years ago; except for the main guy's crustache ala Colour me Badd which is so 20 years ago.


Marcus Collins

I think he looks really good but the performance is very karaoke. Don't get me wrong I love karaoke but that's not what this show is about. His phrasing is off and it's just not the best vocal I've heard in my life. While I think he is really cute it did not do it for me.






Sami Brookes

Why is she actually done up like a drag queen? I'm the first to admit I wish I was a drag queen myself but I really do not think her styling or makeup is flattering in any way shape or form. The X Factor has a really bad habit of putting anyone over a size 10 in shapeless black sacks of varying lengths (see Mary from last year) and I do not like it. What the frickity frak did she do with her mouth at the end there? If Simon was there he'd say it was a "cruise ship" performance.


The Risk

We've never heard them sing together before and I think if we had they wouldn't be here. Their voices just don't really mesh well together. Again if you can't rap- DON'T RAP; I think bad rapping might be my new pet peeve. I'm not a fan and at this stage and can't see them sticking around very long. Did the judges hear something totally different from me? I'm actually shocked that they liked it so much.


Craig Colton

I hope they break him of that lip snarl habit quickly; why do contestants do that? It doesn't look big, clever or cute. I have no idea what song he is singing which makes it really hard for me to connect and get into it. He can sing but there is no connection. WHAT THE F WAS THAT?!?! That strange whipsery, almost crying drama break in the middle before the crescendo? Who said that was okay? That put me right off; I wasn't committed from the start and that killed it for me.


Kitty Brucknell

Did she get botox? Her forehead and eyebrows look freakishly smooth and frozen. She looks like a waxwork! She's not the worst singer but all the theatrics and styling is only something you can pull of once you are an established artist. Did you notice how no one clapped at first? It's because they didn't know WTF to say! Her voice was fine but the performance was just really out of place and she so wants to be Gaga right?


Janet Devlin

I absolutely hate her Dale Evans outfit but holy shit is she the best by a mile. The song choice is amazing and completely shows off the vulnerability and innocence in her voice. It was totally stunning and she's my early pick to win the X Factor. She has a little case of Diana Vickers hands but otherwise perfect. Also how is it she sounds more Irish singing than she does speaking? So cute!




All photos from ITV.com

GOSH Nail Glitter Giveaway!

It's been a while since I've had a giveaway and with Halloween coming up this one couldn't be better timed! GOSH cosmetics have come out with Nail Glitter which isn't only on trend (did you see Kelly's Rowland's glitter nails on X-Factor?) but also is perfect for fancy dress/Halloween costumes at the end of this month.

Click to Enlarge

I gave myself one glittery toe last night and it was really easy and I love how the glitter is matte but sparkly at the same time. I have two pots for two winners of GOSH Nail Glitter. To enter follow the rules as below! Competition closes October 14th.

Transatlantic Blonde was provided GOSH Nail Glitter for the purpose of review and giveaway but all opinions are our own.

Toddler Swimming Lessons

I love to swim. I was a total pool rat growing up and shockingly enough I was a certified lifeguard for several years and did aquatic therapy to children with special needs. If I'm at a hotel even for one night and it has a pool I will be in it. I think I've passed this love of water on to Blondie Boy.



He loves the water and splashes and jumps in over and over. He even attempts to paddle some and will "kick kick kick" when asked in the pool. When we were on holiday we had a Konfidence float suit which has 8 removable floats that you can take out as your child gets more confident in the water. It was great because it gave him the extra bit of buoyancy but he could still move around and kick while lying in the correct position in the water.


Personally I'm completely against things like water wings or floaties because they give children a false sense of security in the water and can be detrimental to their swimming development but since the float suit still requires you to hold yourself up and swim it aids in development rather than hinders it.


When we got back from France I decided to try him at swim lessons when we got back and he loved the singing and chasing rubber ducks in the water but going under water not so much. Apparently if you blow in a baby's face before you dunk them under water they have an instinct to breathe in and therefore not drink the pool when they go under. Blondie Boy has no such instinct.


He goes under and comes up coughing and sputtering having drank half the pool. He can blow bubbles in the pool (one of the first things I taught back in the day) but he still doesn't quite grasp in any way shape or form to keep his mouth shut UNDER water.


I'd like to take him back to lessons but I wonder if maybe it's better to just try and keep taking him on my own (which is free) and focusing on getting him to go under water before trying lessons again? What age was your child when you taught them to swim and did you do it yourself or go to lessons? What is the magical secret to teaching them they don't have gills and can't breathe under water?


The Konfidence Float Suit was provided to Transatlantic Blonde for review but all opinions are our own.

Shellac Manicure- The Beauty Store, Glasgow

It's no secret I love a good beauty treatment and I especially love getting my nails done. You've seen me rave about my favourite Glasgow salon before and tonight I was treated to a Shellac manicure by the lovely people at The Beauty Store in Glasgow. Shellac manicures are a sort of hybrid of nail polish and gel nails where you get the best of both worlds.  The Shellac goes on like nail polish but lasts up to two weeks like gel and known of the downfalls of gel such as thick coats or nail damage.

There were over a dozen colours too choose from but I went for one of the newest colour a sort of charcoal grey. I'm loving grey this season and have convinced myself it is the new black. How fab are they? It was dry immediately as well so no chance for me to smudge them!


Blondie Boy was fascinated by them when I came home and kept holding my hands and pushing on my nails. I think he thought he could take the colour off if he tried hard enough. He also learned to say "grey" which was so cute!

The Beauty Store has a whole range of beauty treatments and they've give you the chance to try them all at a reduced rate! Transatlantic Blonde readers will get 10% off their first treatment with the special code "Blonde10" until the 31st of October; just print out the image to the right and take it with you! What will you try?


They are also offering a free paraffin hand treatment with 3 Shellac manicures as a loyalty bonus! They also have a fabulous loyalty card system where you get a stamp for every £10 spent and after 16 stamps you get £10 off your next treatment!


Shellac manicures are £18 before the 10% discount-one of the cheapest in Glasgow!


Transatlantic Blonde was provided Shellac nails for the purpose of this review but all opinions are her own.

When should a child go to school?

Yesterday I posted off an application for Blondie Boy for a local dual language nursery school. I know he's only 21 months but I thought as he will be starting primary school young because of his birthday the same would be true for pre-school and he'd start at 2 1/2. Not so much.


The woman phoned to say she got our application (that was quick!) but that he wouldn't start until the day after his 3rd birthday so 2013. She was absolutely lovely and said she'd keep his application and give us a phone closer to when he'd be due to enroll.

Pre-School aged Blondie

I have no idea when children start pre-school in America so I'm not basing this on a US vs. UK standard or anything. Sure I was a summer camp counsellor, taught secondary sexual health courses and was a TA and Graduate Assistant but known of that tells me how to structure learning for a toddler.


When do you think children should start attending pre-school? Am I completely crazy to want to try and find him a place somewhere at age 2 1/2? Are there resources out there for teaching toddlers at home? Should I just keep letting him do his own thing and learn without structured teaching?

Feminist Friday XVII: Myths

I have so much I could say but there is no wifi in my hotel room. I just want to get the link up ASAP so big apologies! Huge thanks to NBH for wading into new territory and making a linky for me. Y'all have no idea how long it's taken to get this up!

Feminist Friday XVII:

Myths

Here's how it works. Write a blog about being a feminist mom, raising a feminist child, a rant or anything that falls under the realm of the theme for the week. Come back and link your post and post the button on your blog.


That's it.


You don't even have to be a blogger to take part - just send me your post and I will publish it on my blog for you. You don't even have to include your name if you prefer.


When you've published it, come back on Friday and via a widget thing you can add a link to your post and share it with everyone. The link remains open for 4 days.


Visit others, comment if you like them or feel inspired by them. Just go out and encourage and support other feminist Moms.


The more support you give, the more you will get back! I can't wait to meet and interact with other feminist moms around the world!