Fair is foul...

I'm sure English teachers everywhere did a little jig when they heard that a new interpretation of Macbeth was hitting the big screen. Would there be a fresh take on this centuries old tale? How would it differ from the well known adaptations that already exist? More importantly, would it pave the way for some very welcome 'DVD lessons'? I must say, it defied all of my expectations - from the awesome opening battle sequence to the fiery finale (and I'm not someone who is easily impressed). The landscapes were raw and unforgiving and the cinematography was simply stunning, but deeply affecting. Michael Fassbender was born to play the title character and Marion Cotillard's Lady Macbeth was captivating (though not as ruthless or darkly ambitious as previous incarnations). The director, Justin Kurzel, took a fair few liberties that paid off but I won't write too much in case you want to see for yourself. I will tell you what has been omitted though. Gone are the famous witchy incantations and the porter scene has been done away with completely. There's also a Donalbain-shaped hole in the story but these changes work in this adaptation. Furthermore, the couple's childlessness is a prominent vein that runs throughout  and gives the film splashes of humanity every so often. To conclude, this is a very, very dark reworking that mesmerizes and shocks in equal measure. I certainly can't show the whole film to my class but some carefully chosen clips would definitely hook them (especially the boys). 

All hail indeed!

Get shirty...

I think long shirts are fantastic; they can be dressed up with a pair of skinny jeans/trousers and killer heels or dressed down with leggings and flats/canvas shoes. I wear these floral beauties to work with smart, slim trousers and heeled ankle boots. They're so fun and my students can spot me a mile off (is that a good or bad thing?). Anyone who is a regular reader will know that if I really like something, I'll buy it in several colours.  These were purchased from Warehouse where you can find many timeless, well-made pieces that are good quality too. So join me and dare to wear these vibrant shirts that are popping up all over the place!

 

All animals are equal?

It's always a pleasure to rediscover the joy in something as it's even better the second time around. This is certainly the case with George Orwell's Animal Farm. I first studied this as a student of fourteen, many moons ago. I had pretty much forgotten everything about it, bar the fact that it was a cracking story about revolutionary animals. The reason I've become reacquainted with this classic allegory is because it is a new text that I am teaching to my older students. My English department has changed exam boards this year, which means a host of new literature texts to choose from (yay!). Since this forms part of a GCSE qualification, I have to make sure that I'm up to speed on every aspect of the novella. This is where the joy comes in; my in depth research has woken me to its sheer brilliance. I'd forgotten what a wonderfully woven satire it was and how cleverly Orwell ridiculed totalitarianism and communism through it. The shenanigans of the pigs (so brilliantly named), as they go about betraying their own revolutionary principles, makes for fantastic reading. It also paves the way to teach youngsters the importance of democracy and integrity (as well as riotous activities like recreating the Battle of the Cowshed!). Last but not least, Orwell is responsible for crafting some of the most famous quotes, derived from literature. I certainly hope my students enjoy studying it as much as I enjoy teaching it.

 

A jewel of an idea...

'Row of hooks' and 'beautiful' don't usually go in the same sentence but this piece from Sass and Belle nails it. The item was  a present from my sister and the perfect opportunity came to finally put this up. I redecorated my bedroom recently and didn't fancy putting nails into the pristine, painted walls. I got round it by attaching the  hooks to the side of my wardrobe instead. It's pretty, practical and in the perfect place for me. I've accumulated so much jewellery that a humble box just doesn't cut it anymore! 

Why not peruse their website? They've got so many stunning ways to store and display your jewels.

All about the base...

There are certain products that I'm reluctant to change, simply because getting them right is a pain/labour of love. Switching to a new foundation is definitely up there because finding the right shade is a holy grail type mission. I decided to wave goodbye to my powder foundation and go back to a liquid after many, many years. I have skin that gets a sheen as the day goes on so I wanted something that worked on this. More importantly, I wanted something that didn't clog pores or exacerbate my problem areas. I decided to go with Clinique and so began the painstaking journey! I initially got given a sample pot in Beige (Stay Matte range) and that was far too light for my skin tone. I then tried Sand which gave me an instant light tan (not the effect I was after). Not to be defeated, I went back to the counter and declared that a shade between these two would be perfect. There was nothing suitable in this range, so the helpful assistant suggested Fresh Honey in the Anti-Blemish Solutions range. If something has 'anti' and 'blemish' in the title I'm all over it! This was the best fit so my voyage of discovery was over. I'm happy to say that I've stuck with this shade and if it copes with most situations, conditions and time frames, I'll be a loyal customer (until the next change!).