Do you have the Edge?

I know I'm no size 6 with girl-envy abs and toned thighs, but what I value even more is good health and general well-being. I always try my best to eat well and exercise regularly in order to make room for the occasional pizzas, burgers and ice cream cravings!

It is extra difficult to stay motivated in fitness and eat healthy living in UK, from the temperamental (mostly gloomy wet and cold) weather on top of a serious comfort/fast-food culture. I mean, no one has ever used the phrase "British Cuisine" because it simply doesn't exist. Pub food and pints, sure! The food revolution Jamie Oliver has been fighting for is real!

I get serious culture envy on Instagram, mostly of people based in LA - where sunshine is part of everyday life, where food is gloriously GOOD, and where their health awareness game is strong. A crucial part to staying focused is mixing it up. As important as routine is to integrate workouts into your schedule, doing the exact same things for too long is only going to bore not only your mind but your body too. Our body works best when we're always mixing it up, surprising our body to use and stimulate different parts. Especially with me, an acute type of hyperactive. I can't be doing the same thing for too long before I get too restless, and I need variety in my life. I call them quirks...but I never want to eat the same ingredient twice a day, and I always have more than 2-3 games & books in session... Totally sidetracked, my point is, I try new workouts whenever I can!

 

Pre-sesh selfies obvi! :P

Spin is totally my element, I generally go twice a week even though I wish I could do it more often (I live really far from civilization). If you are put off of exercising because the word "cardio" makes you shudder with boredom like many of my friends, TRY SPINNING! Here at Edge Cycle, they offer a free 30min ride for you to feel first hand how easy weightloss / getting fit just got! It is like a fluorescent rave, music bumping and the instructor motivating your way to push push push while sweat just oozes off of you. Sequences vary roughly from 15 - 45 seconds going up, down, quick, and slow - keeping you engaged and on your toes the whole time. There really isn't time for boredom and before you know it - you're done!

Not to mention the state of the art bikes they have kitted their studio with - the smoothest and quietest I had ever experienced. Like I was flying in a Bentley...but on a stationary bike.

 The website humbly states that the studio is 2 mins away from Chancery Lane tube station when really I can easily do it within 1. It was only about 4 shops down if you come out of the closest exit. Most people in my class were in and out, presumably from nearby offices for a quick sweat-fix. While I was there, in fact, someone was signing up to join its membership after being very happy with her trial. What excites my need for variety more is that they don't just offer spin classes. They have bootcamp, yoga, fight club, and many others that incorporate bike, mat, weights, and more!

They also have a cool giveaway contest going on on their Instagram so don't miss out on your chance to win either 3 personal training lessons or a whole month unlimited classes! All you have to do when you turn up for your free class is to upload a snap of your locker, #myedgelocker then tag & follow @EdgeCycleLondon! Here is mine:

And of course, wearing happy workout gear always helps!

 

 
Sports Bra   //   C&C California
Top   //   Pineapple Dance Studios
Joggers   //   Nike
Trainers   //   Nike 

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Antman!

Finally caught a break to the cinema!

For those who had beat me to watching Ant-man, what did you all think! I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I had always been apprehensive but this surely echoes the Marvel movies from the beginning that got the whole party started, like Iron Man, Thor, the first Avengers. Trust Paul Rudd (who will always be Mike Hannigan to me) to deliver a natural sense of humour, especially his Mexican ex-cellmate who will never just get to the point.

I have never liked insects (cringing as I'm seeing the word "insect" materialise on my screen) and as a recent victim of cockroach-crawled-onto-my-leg (thanks seductive San Diego seaside restaurants)(and yes of course I yelped up and screamed then would have cut my said leg skin off if I had a sterile surgical knife at hand), I needed to look away shuddering through a lot of the scenes. I know they had already simplified a lot of their features but still, I tried! I'll avoid spoilers but when a flood of them (ants) comes at you via IMAX, I don't know how anyone can sit still!

As one can imagine a good portion of the film was CGI movements of an insect in our big world. A lot of these visuals are confusing and head spinning but there is amusement when they randomly pull it back out to human scale at the perfect moment in the finale fight scene. The story skeleton is predictable but what was disappointing though was how the villain was of course capable of everything the hero was at the end scene. Besides the typical ending, I enjoyed it enough to give it a positive thumbs up! 7/10 :)

P.S. The daughter is omg megawatts cute!!!

K xoxo

London Film & Comic Con

I was cosplaying as The Wasp from Antman for day 1 when then movie premiered - did anyone make it to the cinema for it yet? I can't wait!

This cosplay came out really well after all the hiccups; it was originally intended for San Diego but the assembly was surprisingly difficult with the latex so it never made it. The plates are moulded out of foam & worbla, then filled with car body filler - a regretful process to sand & smooth after in my own living room! I had luckily discovered glue instead as the sealing/smoothing agent for Angela and made the deadline (more about this & SDCC in next post!). The latex was bought as a catsuit then customised, who knew literally nothing glues to it, not even superglue or hot glue gun? In the end magnet was the only option and in quantities required, took a while! My absolute favourite bit of the outfit has got to be the wings, I think it totally makes it!

The rest of my weekend was dedicated to celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Back to the Future! It was the first public event Michael J Fox since he announced his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in 1998, 7 years after he was told by doctors he had only 10 years left to work. That was 24 years ago.

It was quite heartbreaking to witness his deterioration but inspiring to watch how determined he is to not let anything stop him from doing what he loves, especially through his cool sense of humour. By Sunday the hectic schedules were taking its toll on him, and it kinda sucks that the event did this to him. We were physically pushed into position next to him in his chair for a split second snap before the next person is shoved onto the cross. Even the lady behind me said to her boyfriend that it sucks not being able to say hello. Everybody paid a LOT for this photo op!

I was also very unluckily lucky. I had finally managed to squeeze myself into the Delorean set photo op with Christopher Lloyd (yes Doc Brown!!) by the last day of comic con (eek) and right at my turn the printer breaks! After the moment of panic washed past me, Mr Lloyd and I started chatting and omg in retrospect was crazy!! He currently lives in Santa Barbara, we spoke about SECC a little, and of course we needed a selfie INSIDE the delorean!

And another more official one...or two!

It really was like this odd time warp over the weekend, going back to when the movie came out in the 80's, where it travels to Oct 2015 and how that future compares to our 2015 now. Michael reckons we are very close to making the hover board a reality so there is hope yet! As with the legendary Nikes, ever wondered how it came about? MJF was asked what shoes he liked, he replies "what I'm wearing is pretty sweet", and hadn't had to pay for another pair ever again!

Catch up with everything else I got up to on Instagram and for tonight - we're driving where no roads are needed, back in time!!

xoxo

Cinderella (2015)

So I decided I will need this in the garden of my future dream mansion, in this perfect shade of mint! 

Did everyone have a nice long break? Whilst it was Easter weekend for everyone else, I had the luxury of meeting friends, eating out and watching girlie movies as it was my birthday weekend! So Spring as here as British weather allows and the sun occasionally out enough for us to finally go easy on the layers - this was my outfit to watch Cinderella.

I walked past a little girl who essentially had on the same outfit and shamelessly enjoyed it haha.

I have never had any fantasies to be a Disney Princess, or any princess actually. I have always believed in gender equality in rights, but never had issues with "weak" princesses needing a man and be "saved". It's a genre, mostly in cartoons/animations.

I walked in without much expectations. Being a fan of Downton Abbey and obviously Game of Thrones, I know not only 'Lady Rose' is the lead, 'Daisy' is one of the stepsisters, but Rob Stark is the prince! Then what blew me away instead was Cate Blanchett, in every single way. My crush on her developed when I first saw her at San Diego Comic Con behind the stage - how she oozes the demeanour of a movie goddess. She is definitely what made the movie and it was exhilarating how the costume designer, Sandy Powell, shows off her talent through Blanchett's character as the Stepmother. Every outfit was absolutely breathtaking. It was very couture Lanvin x Vivienne Westwood so I just had to google her! The lavish set was almost equally impressive, especially the reinvented baroque pumpkin carriage. As a footwear designer though, I am really not sure about the lump they call the glass slipper...

All in all, still a very nice girlie birthday treat!

xoxo