27 September 2011

Ann Summers Roadshow: Metro Centre

Hey everyone,

Just a short heads-up to local lovelies about the Ann Summers Roadshow which is making a stop at Metro Centre this Thursday 29th September.



It's part of their Sexy Uncovered campaign, which is launching Ann Summers' brand new look - as well as a modelling competition to be the new face of the company.

Everyone of all heights, shapes and sizes are welcome to try out - so pleae come along and shake your little touches on the catwalk.
Everyone who does get a goodie bag and discounts.

If you're not up to being a model grrrrl, you are very welcome to come along to the pop up party and see all the new Ann Summers products for yourself.

I'll be there all day writing up the day for you guys - but I'm also getting involved in their Ask A Stylist section which is so exciting and terrifying, so if you come along and see me - please say hello!
I'm nice, I promise.

If you're not from the North - fear not!
There are two more roadshows happpening in Thurrock, and I believe you can meet the lovely Devon of Fat Nurse.

Hope to see plenty of you on the 29th.
Comment or tweet if you're thinking of coming along, and I'll look out for you!

Good luck to everyone entering the competition.



Muchos love,
MessyCarla.

DISCLAIMER: I am an Ann Summers brand ambassador, however I recieved no money for writing this blog post and am not being paid for my attendance on their roadshow. I am occasionally sent items for review, which are clearly marked as gifts. All opinions are - as always - my own!

Peek A Boux

Hey everyone,

Earlier this week, I was kindly invited to the launch of beautiful lingerie shop Boux Avenue at The Metro Centre.


Owned by retail giant (and dragon) Theo Paphitis it is the first of it's seven stores to open in the North East.

We all got to meet Theo, who is absolutely lovely and passionate about what he does.

He explained to us how underwear shopping shouldn't come hand in hand with everyday shopping - in his own words: "You shouldn't need to buy the most intimate clothing you own in the same store as you buy frozen chicken."

Boux Avenue is warm, welcoming and aesthetically beautiful - inspired by Parisian boutiques, with displays of overflowing suitcases and drawers full of their wares in a large range of sizes.

Also sold are beauty products such as hand creams, body polishes and lip balms (more below), pyjamas (all added to my Christmas list) and even beautiful vintage-inspired greetings cards.

The girls working there are clued up about underwear, and all wear matching Audrey Hepburn-esque black shift dresses.
I LOVED that the staff are however able to wear their choice of footwear - we saw everything from skyscraper bubblegum pink stillettos to sensible black ballet flats!








I was so happy to meet some fellow Northern bloggers, as all the events I have attended so far have been in London.
They were all adorable, and later went for coffee to discuss blogger-y things further while we munched our free cupcakes.


The Boux girls with Daniella from Madame Gourmand and Katie from Lady From a Tramp.
We also met Victoria from The Window Shopper but I didn't get to snap a picture - next time, definitely!


We were all given very generous goodie bags with White Chiffon hand cream (lily, jasmine and elderflower), rose lip balm, a pair of frilly french knickers, lemon cupcakes and a gift card.

With this I treat myself to a Blossom Balconette bra - I even bought another with my own money and I loved it so much.

I'm not going to give away my bra size - but put it this way, I can sometimes struggle to find lifting and supporting bras which are also very pretty.
This one fits me perfectly, and Boux Avenue even have a deal on at the minute where for every bra you buy, you recieve a pair of matching knickers absolutely free!

Oh yes, matching undies for everyone: no excuses now girls!

Most sets come with the option of (Keep your filthy paws off my) silky drawers or a tho-tho-tho-tho-thong!





Right, now I've got songs from Grease and novelty R&B from the early 00s stuck in my head I think I'll sign off. It's for the best methinks.
Be sure to give Boux Avenue a look if you have a local store - and they're also available online.

There's another big event coming up at the Metro Centre this week, but hang tight - I'll do a separate post about that! For a hint though: be practicing your model grrrl walks.

Muchos love,
MessyCarla.


DISCLAIMER: I recieved no money for writing this post. As always - ALL opinions are my own!

21 September 2011

Virginia is for Lovers.

Hey everyone,

I am in dire need of a holiday after working hard all year, so on a bit of a whim I've booked flights to visit my friend, Jessica, in Norfolk, Virginia.

I last visited in 2008, so I can't wait to see everyone again!
Last time, I went in summertime - so it'll feel like a different place in the winter.
Even though I'm not a very Christmassy person ("Bah, humbug!") I'm looking forward to seeing everywhere I fell in love with three years ago all done up in tinsel and fairy lights.

I've just been looking through photos from my last visit, so thought I'd share some of my favourites with you:



























1: From the treetops ride at Busch Gardens. Lots of Virginia's greenery is protected by the government.

2: Looks like a scene from Pocahontas, no?

3: Big pretzel stuffed with cream cheese at a Ocean Breeze Water Park.

4: Butter Pecan ice cream with sprinkles at Virginia Beach.

5: Colonial Williamsburg.

6: Glowsticks for 4th July whilst watching the fireworks on the beach.

7: Grilled cheese at Colonial Williamsburg.

8: I'll definitely be dragging Jessica back to Hooters for hot dogs and pictures with the waitresses. I really am the worst feminist ever!

9: I intend to spent two months wages here...

10: Boating in a kids play area. We later ended up chasing around a YMCA group.

11: The pier at Virginia Beach.

12: Being originally from South Shields, I have such a love for other coastal towns!

13: The last picture we took outside her house before I went home. I sobbed for three hours at the airport, freaking out families either side of me.


There is one wee person I'll be missing seeing - a few months ago, one of Jessica's cats - Mommie - passed away.
She was the cutest little kitty, full of beans and personality.
When I used to write my emails home if I didn't pay her any attention she would sit on top of the laptop and gaze up at me.

Still, I took this short video of her one day when I was waiting for Jessica to get changed for the pool.
I love how she follows me about!


On a more positive note, I do hope I get to hang out with the friends I made during my last visit - especially Jaime, Jessica's twin sister and their friends Sara and Charlene (who took me to see The Dark Knight and bought me the biggest box of popcorn I've ever seen in my life).

Also Nicky who took me to an amazing independant vegan cafe, and Jenna for Ihop pancakes!


Are any of you guys from VA? What's your favourite part about living there?
Gahhh I'm so excited to go back. Can you tell?

Muchos love,
MessyCarla.

18 September 2011

Costa Del Shields.

Hey everyone,

I think Autumn is well a truly here. I've taken to wearing my coat on a near-daily basis which is pretty much unheard of from someone from Newcastle, so you know the sun has definitely took his hat off for the year.

However, there was a really nice sunny day this week - so me and Italian Catholic Mother decided to make the most of it, and go to South Shields for pub grub and pints.

Ready for location shots...?




DRESS: ASOS.
COAT: New Look (2009).
BELT: Dorothy Perkins.
SHADES: Marc Jacobs.
NECKLACE: Accessorize.
PIN: Vivienne Westwood.
SHOES: Primark.
POINT OF FASHION: The last day of (Geordie) summer.

I love love love that ASOS dress - it was only £15 in the sale and fits perfectly.
It'll be a good one to carry through to autumn with a nice thick cardigan - I'm not going to lie, shooting the first picture was bloody freezing!

And some more adventures from this week:






(Picture by my sister, Nadia)


1: I have such a weakness for Claire's Accessories, and I picked up these fab tea and biscuits earrings for around £6!

2: Papi B made amazing tapas! We had chilli prawns, Moroccan chicken, tortilla, chorizo, battered white fish with aioli and (of course) patatas bravas. Nommmm - best meal I've had in ages.

3: My sister is taking Photography for A-Level and is using the work of Rankin as inspiration by using paint in photographs.
Her friend Eleanor painted this fantastic heart and muscle design on their friend Claire and Nadia took the snaps (I just photoshopped this one myself out of quickness, she still has to do the rest herself).


The rest of the week has gone quite quick.

It was the Great North Run 2011 this weekend, and therefore our busiest few days of the year at work with thousands of people suddenly landing in Newcastle.
I of course was my usual nosy self, and loved hearing people's stories as to why they were running.

As for this week, I have one final Nandos date with Daniel for a whole year as he leaves for France next week.
I fully intend to sob into my chicken pitta.


Muchos love,
MessyCarla.

14 September 2011

A/W 11 Wishlist.

Hey everyone,

Just a short one today - I haven't done one of these style posts in a while, so thought I'd revive it now all the shops are full of A/W goodies.


And what I've been up to lately:






1: I bought a new bottle of my favourite perfume - Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood. I've missed it!

2: During the last days of nice weather, my uncle had his annual BBQ. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling up to it after working two long shifts in a row, so I woke up after a long nap to a big plate of leftover food my family brought home. Nom.

3: I treated myself to some new DVDs: The Inbetweeners Series 3, Spirited Away, Me and You and Everyone We Know and My Neighbour Totoro. I can't believe my sister has never seen Toroto - this has to be rectified soon!


Speaking of Autumn/Winter - you know that new Facebook feature where it groups various topics your friends are talking about? The main one today on my feed was 'Christmas.'
Gahhh, it's only September!

Mind you, Italian Catholic Mother's Christmas cards and wrapping paper did arrive today from the Studio 24 catalogue.
The Santa is a bit too skinny for my liking, though.


Muchos love,
MessyCarla.

3 September 2011

Rock and/or Roll.

Hey everyone,

Just a quick outfit post today.
I've been a bit 'off' all week and spending most of my free time sleping.
However I'd been looking forward to seeing The Flatliners at Trillians, so perked up for a few hours.

It seems like a few bloggers are experimenting with their looks at the minute, and going for a darker look (notably my blogger twin, Claire and also Georgina) which has inspired me to go for a more rockabilly look for the gig.


TOP: Steel Wheels.
SKIRT: New Look.
CARDIGAN: H&M.
HAIRBAND: Marscapony Handmade Goods.
BELT: ASOS.
NECKLACE: Dorothy Perkins.
SHOES: Office.
BAG: Primark.
POINT OF FASHION: Rockabilly-ish.




1: The hairband was very kindly sent to me by the lovely Donna of Marscapony Handmade Goods and I absolutely LOVE it. Due to having quite fine hair I sometimes find hairbands which tie at the top slip away from my hair unless I use lots of bobby pins and hairspray the whole thing in place.
However, Donna's hairbands have wires hidden inside, making it easier to bend into shape. I now want every pattern available!

2: I'm still addicted to leopard print nails.
The blue is 291/Cobalt Blue and the sprinkles are 210 both by Barry M. I drew the print freehand with the Models Own pen.

The Flatliners were absolutely awesome, and I love gigs where everybody dances.
You should definitely check them out:


Finally, you win a (virtual) cookie if you got the reference to this blog.
I named it after one of the greatest moments on The Simpsons.


Muchos love,
MessyCarla.

1 September 2011

WISHLIST!


CURRENT WISHLIST:
(AKA: pieces I'm currently coveting...have a look around - you may find something new for your wardrobe!)