Fins and face masks



Another Friday, another feature.

Thanks for swinging by again! Yes, Friday's are looking a bit different now that Dress Up Friday is over, but never mind, here's a dose of beach therapy for you instead. This shot was taken on Wednesday when I was trying out my new toys. Look a bit harder and you'll see them.




But before we talk about these glove fins, I thought I'd just mention that jazzy swimsuit of mine, bought from the Wiggle website. I buy all my swimwear from there as well as goggles, swimcap and anything else you can imagine. Here's the link to the same one




I tend to wear this longer kneeskin suit in the evenings when the beaches are a bit more busy. I'm not keen on flashing too much flesh and love the way this accentuates the positive while covering up the negative. Fiona and I are enjoying our after work swims, often challenging ourselves to swim further and faster than if we swam alone.




A fellow swimmer introduced me to these hand fins recently, raving about the difference they can make to both the speed and power of stroke. I bought mine on Amazon, but I suppose you could find them elsewhere. In fact, I don't know why I didn't look for them on Wiggle! Anyway, as Fiona can testify, they do make for a much more powerful stroke and have also helped me improve the pitch of entry for my hands on freestyle. Every time I wear them they improve my speed which in turn means that she too improves her speed as she works to keep up with me. The tables will be turned next week when hers arrive and I have to try even harder to catch up with her speedy gonzalez stroke!




This was taken on Pentle Bay when we swam from the south end to the north and back again. We reward our efforts with a hot flask of tea or in my case fresh lemon and honey - yum! It's a good way to wind down at the end of the day, giving us the chance to take in the view and congratulate ourselves on both the swim and the lifestyle we have here.




Yes, today it's Mask-up Friday and for me, although I've been wearing these at work since the 6th of July, this means another daily challenge to find the right mask to compliment the outfit of the day. I've been making my own for some time in both the snout shape and the pleated one. I won't pretend that they're comfortable, but as someone recently pointed out, if you don't like wearing a mask then you'll hate wearing a ventilator.




Initially I really struggled wearing the face covering, but the more I do, the more I have become acclimatised. My customers are wearing them, some in fabric and some are the disposable kind, but whichever, I'm grateful that they are. Together we're doing our bit to keep each other safe and with the other measures I take, hopefully my workplace has become a sanitary space for everyone. I had a visit from our local Environmental Health Officer today and felt very reassured that everything I'm doing is right and appropriate for this type of retail opportunity. 




My sister Dianne made four of this style of masks to start me off and I've been copying her template to make more. I'm also making the oblong, pleated version as some days it feels less restrictive, but maybe that also means less effective. Mask-Up Friday is headline news today, but soon it'll be the norm. 










Now I have masks as my newest accessory I'm finding the daily outfit choice is being led by the mask rather than the other way around. This weekend I hope to make a few more which might mean no matter what I wear, I'll always have the right mask to wear. 


And talking about matching ... Did you notice how beautifully my new fins matched my swimming cossie?




I'll be back on Monday with our end of month style challenge, so please don't miss it!

Anna x

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12 comments

  1. How good of you to make some masks that fits with any outfit! That way it is somewhat easier to wear them! Have a great weekend! Hope to see you on my Fancy Friday linkup party!

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    1. Yes, I'm embracing the whole mask thing and have done since the 6th of July when I went back to work. Having them to match the OOTD seemed like an obvious move :)

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  2. Your swimsuit looks fabulous, Anna, I love that peephole cutout at the back. I'd never heard of those fin gloves. I love how you're matching facemasks to your outfits. Having a couple of "fashionable" ones makes wearing them much more enjoyable. xxx

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    1. The fin gloves were news to me too until recently, but I'm enjoying the effects.

      Face masks are definitely going to become the latest accessory as they're going to be around for a long time I think x

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  3. I am going to check out that swimsuit site. I have been getting in with my grandson and might do it more often if my wrinkly legs were covered. When did they become saggy...so annoying. And I love your masks. I am keen to make mine more of an accessory too and have ordered some new colours.

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    1. These swimsuits are brilliant for covering up all sorts of flaws - I like that they hide my cellulite and yet still make me feel glamorous.

      I'm going to be making more masks as I always need the one that's in the wash!

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  4. I've got two plain masks - both neutral beige! Maybe will get some brighter examples like yours. Nice post Anna. Jacqui x

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    1. Some people are playing it down with simple masks but you know me - I love to jazz my outfits up with my accessories!

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  5. Fabulous face masks Anna..how lovely that they match your outfits. I’m afraid that the two that I have could only be described as greige.
    I’m still struggling to get used to wearing them. X

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    1. I must admit that the first day I wore mine to work I felt really self conscious, but now that everyone is wearing them it feels much more normal. I have to wear mine for most of day and it helped me to get used to the feeling pretty quickly.

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  6. I am very impressed with your swimming capacities. I am the complete opposite. I can swim across a swimming pool. Once. The short side.
    I had to laugh about "if you don't like wearing a mask then you'll hate wearing a ventilator". Very funny.
    You are doing great with your matching masks. I have ordered two more of the ones you saw on Instagram. Different colours, different patterns. Mine are really comfortable.
    Greetje

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  7. Lovely to see you enjoying some swimming with a new accessory (and looking so fab!). And also lovely that you're adding these beautiful and colorful masks into your outfits, I think these details make a difference!, less stress and more fun!
    besos

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