19 January 2012

Circle Lenses: The Fumblings of an Amateur



 Hey everyone,

You may remember that one of my resolutions for this year was to try circle lenses.
Since I've finally had success with applying false eyelashes - I thought I'd try and continue with my winning streak and finally buy some!

Circle lenses are one of those things on the internet where there is an overload of information and it seems that everyone who wears them has a different opinion on everything from which choosing which brand, to care of the lenses themselves.

However right on cue, the fabulous Gazel from Bonjour Gazel wrote several posts recently about her experiences.
So saying as she gave these ones a great review, I ordered the same in blue from HoneyColor.com.

They cost around £11.60 plus postage, which I think is a reasonable price to simply try them and they arrived about a week later from Malaysia.

So what I got was the lenses both in little jars of saline solution, as well as a cute holder for them for free.
I think the little blue elephants look so sweet:




Again, the care of lenses and how to store them seems to depend on choice. Some websites say to store them in saline solution, others in regular contact lens solution.

Having never worn contacts before anyway, I had no experience in this area, so on his advice I stored them in some of Papi B's regular contact solution for about six hours before I was due to go out with my friends Sarah and Libby.

So about an hour before I was due to leave the house, I thought I'd tackle lenses after doing my make up.
I'm not going to go into how I applied them as there are a million tutorials on YouTube about how to do this - and of course waaay better than my first try!
I have to point out that I have incredibly sensitive eyes, and it doesn't take much for them to water.

(For example, I used to see a opthalmologist due to muscle weakness in the back of my eyes, and she wore incredibly strong perfume and as soon as she would put her hands up to my face my peepers would turn into waterfalls!)

So after fumbling around getting them in (I am incredibly clumsy) my eyes did go a little bloodshot.
However I put this down to it being my first time, and perhaps I hadn't washed all of the solution off properly.

Anyway, here are two comparison photos as to what my eyes looked like before and after applying:



I absolutely love the enlargement and colour, but you can see how my eyes went a little bloodshot.
However when I met my friends, they noticed the contacts straight away, but didn't comment on the redness at all - even when I asked they said they hadn't noticed!

I took two more pictures while I was out:


Without flash.


With flash.

So you can see in the first photo how much more enlarged my eyes look, and definitely look bluer than my normal green eyes.
In the second, you can really see the colour pop and I love how it clashes with my pink lipstick. Of course they don't really look natural - but that's not what I was going for!

You can also see in the above photos how the redness cleared up in my right eye, but is still quite bloodshot in the left. However they didn't hurt or itch at all, and I didn't feel aware of them.


Another comparison picture taken when I got home.
I wore the lenses for about five hours.

I used the last of my dad's solution and haven't been out to get any yet so I have left my contacts for the time being in water (boiled then left to cool completely) and I will probaly ask the pharmacist in Boots what they recommend tomorrow.

But out of curiosity, I popped them in today to see if my eyes went red - and they were absolutely fine!
No redness whatsoever:


NO MAKEUP. APOLS. BAD BLOGGER.


So apologies that this is quite wordy but I just wanted to share my experience of applying them for the first time as a lot of the contact online seems to be from people who have been applying them for years!

Have any of you guys tried circle/coloured lenses? I'd love to hear your experiences!

Muchos love,
MessyCarla.

DISCLAIMER: I paid for these lenses myself and was not asked to review them by the company. All opinions are - as ever - my own!



13 January 2012

One Yellow Button


Hey everyone,

Hoorah, it has been mostly lovely and sunny this week. Still freezing cold of course, but at least there is sun.
Where I'm from though in my small Northern town on the banks of the River Tyne, people give you a funny look if you wear sunglasses before summer.

Of course it's absolutely fine to remove nearly all items of clothing at the first signs of warmth (I once saw some guys sunbathing during a cardigan-weather day outside a pub last year...in Feburary) but if you wear sunglasses, people stare at you like you've suddenly sprouted an extra arm.

So alas, no glasses as of yet. My dear Marc Jacobs are still in hibernation for the time being.
Although this sun has made me crave Spring brights again like butter yellows and teals.

Whenever I wear warm colours like yellows and oranges with my black hair, I always feel a little like Biana from Goodnight Little Spoon.
Just monumentally less cute, bawww.



DRESS: Next.
CARDIGAN: H&M.
BELT: ASOS Curve.
NECKLACE: Christmas present.
BADGE: Ebay.
SHOES: Primark.
POINT OF FASHION: Hello, Spring?

Usually I don't like dresses that have that extra little peice of hem along the bottom - but you can't really see it here at all.
Unfortunately the dress is strapless and has some funny little frills at the sides and I don't really like either, but wearing a cardigan makes up for both. I think the frills will be easy to remove, but I'm too lazy to look into it right now. Cardigan wearing is fine.

Also the dress was only £15 in the Next Outlet sale at Royal Quays.
I'm trying to seriously curb my spending over the next few months as I have some big plans I'm trying to put into place - but I couldn't resist this! It's going to be perfect for Spring and Summer.


I'm also trying to share more of my makeup looks as with recent Outfit Posts.
However this wasn't the makeup I was wearing with this look - it was from my friend Marie's birthday night out.

You may remember from my before-last post I said I was going to try and apply fake eyelashes properly.
Well I tried and I didn't look too bad. It's a shame I took this before I flicked the ends up so they look wonky here. But they looked qute good and went on first time.

I'm not calling this one of my resolutions done already - but I'm close!


BASE: Chanel Illusion D'Ombre.
GOLD: Urban Decay Baked.
PURPLE: Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister.
EYELASHES: Claire's Accessories.
EYELINER: Barry M.



Marie's party was Horrible History themed - so I went in a Marie Antoinette inspired look with lots of lace and cake jewellery. Unfortunately all the pictues of me on the night are appauling - too much fizzy pop!
However I created a beehive with the use of a Bumpit and waaaa too much hairspray and backcombing.
I'm still combing out the knots!


Birthday girl Marie (middle) with Natalie (left) and Julia (right). Pirates, arrrgh!
Julia was Marie's housemate during their time at Cambridge and came over from Belfast especially.
It was so lovely to see her again - and we're all going to stay with her on 31st January! I can't wait wait wait.


I'm determained to get falses sorted, so ordered these from Ebay for a few quid.


After a few years absense, I'm on a bit of a Mighty Boosh kick so picked up The Scribblings of a Madcap Shambleton by Noel Fielding and The Mighty Book of Boosh in the Amazon sale.
I love them so much - though the centre pages of Noel's book are rather raunchy!
I'm also reading Different For Girls by Louise Wener which I can't put down.


A public service announcement from the patrons of Trillians in Newcastle...


I'm honestly sick to death of hearing about beauty boxes so I'm not going to say too much here - but I tried the January FeelUnique beauty box since I love the website.
I know the theme was 'essentials' for after the holiday blow out everyone has - but I was a little disappointed as the previous boxes seemed a little more exciting.
The cleanser is ok, but I didn't like the moisturiser (it's too heavy and perfumed - despite me ticking the box for 'sensitive skin') or the conditioner (my hair was unmanageable!).
I may try it for one more month though.


Every year my parents buy me a pair of Next's animal slippers. I already have pigs and bunnies, but this year I got some sheep - they're so cute and have a tartan pattern inside!
Also I think this is the first time I've shared my tattoo on my blog: peek-a-boo!



Riiiight, I'm sorry this was a little long but since I've been away for a week or so I thought I'd catch you all up! I'm glad this month is nearly halfway through - though I have managed to avoid the January blues this year, thank goodness.

However at the end of this month I'm going to Belfast as already mentioned with Marie and Natalie to stay with Julia in her house which apparently has a peacock on the lawn!
We're also going to squeeze in a day to Derry which is going to be aaaaaaaace as my twin Claire from French For Cupcake is coming along with us. Waaa I can't wait to see her face again soon!

It's going to be a busy week as no sooner as I'm home from Belfast, I'm going to London for the + London Bloggers Meet (aka: Plus London 2).
It's so nice not to be helping with the organising this year, and to just be able to just enjoy the event!

I'm going to be sharing a room with one of my favourite bloggers Nadia (who was one of the first ten people or so to follow this blog!) and also Mel who I discovered is a fellow Geordie!
No sleep (or coat) for Nadia, then. Hurrhurrhurr.

If you'd like to attend, please check out the Facebook event or Tumblr for information.

Finally I'll leave you with this song from Operator Please, which I named this blog post after:





Muchos love,
MessyCarla. 

5 January 2012

(Belated) Christmas Haul

Hey everyone,

Apologies this is rather belated, but I thought I'd share what I got for Christmas this year since I didn't get around to sharing.
I know these types of post aren't to everybody's taste and there has recently been discussion about them on Twitter - however I'm really nosy and like reading them!

I also know I've done the New Years and Christmas posts in the wrong order, but you all know me by now, right?
Messy by name, messy by nature.


Topshop unicorn earrings from my sister.


Hello Kitty cushion from my parents. I collect bright, silly cushions for my bed - the others I have are either fluffy or have skulls on, rawr!


Maruaders and Julian Casablancas t-shirts from my parents.
(Mentioned in
these posts)


Deathly Hallows, anatomical heart (see here) and floral necklaces from my parents.
Topshop lips brooch and skull ring from Daniel.


Chanel Illusion D'Ombre and Accessorize London bus necklace from Sam.


Asian candies from my sister (with a note attached "If you can't take the girl to Japan..." She's such a sweetheart!)


The hamster makeup bag made me laugh so much as the little face looks very much like my darling Brie!
Also love the kitty calendar as I'm going to be a crazy cat lady before soon, and I think the little owl decoration is from Accessorize.
My sister got me the Stila lip glazes. LOVE LOVE LOVE.


Illamasqua Freak gift set from my parents and uncle.
My new favourite fragrance - and Illamasqua REALLY do gift sets well as you get so many extras instead of just a matching shower gel.

If you're interested, Maxine did a brilliant video about everything you can find inside:



I absolutely love everything, and am very grateful for everyone for being so generous!


Muchos love,
MessyCarla.

1 January 2012

Hola, 2012!

Hey everyone,

Something a bit different than my usual posts, but first of all Happy New Year!


(Credit unknown - please holler if this is yours!)

I hope you all had a great time whether you spent it dancing and drinking too much fizzy pop, with your family eating nibbles and watching Jools' Hootenanny (like me) or sleeping.

Ever since I read The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole as a tween, I have written ten New Year's Resolutions every year on January 1st.

Resolutions for me are all positive - which is a bit strange coming from someone for who New Year's is my least favourite holiday.
Me and Daniel had a conversation about this recently, and for him a new year means new opportunities and adventures, when for me I have a horrible habit of immediately thinking "wow, another year and I haven't done _____, yet."

Is anybody else like this?
People sometime tend to feel like this moreso on birthdays, but for me it's always New Year!

To try and cheer myself up, I think of things that I would like to achieve in the coming year, away from the generic "lose weight" (bah!) or "stop drinking so much fizzy pop." (double bah!)
Link
So, onwards and upwards:

1. Following on from Georgia’s guest post last month, I will attend a burlesque night for the first time in years.

2. I will see more theatre. With a west-end size stage, two Victorian theatres and countless other companies in the North East there’s no excuse! It’s no shame going to see a show by myself if I can’t find anyone to go with – which is the only real thing holding me back.

3. I say this every year, but I will try and be kinder to myself. It’s cliché but I really am my own worst enemy.

4. I will look into how to stop my Dr Martens from squeaking and start wearing them again.

5. I will make this year count. When my job ended a few months back I was devastated, but I need to see this as a positive sign. I’m still just 22 years old – this is a great window to do something I’ve never tried before such as a makeup course, or finally apply for an international internship.

6. I will have another London date with Sam, take her to see the Matilda musical or Les Misérables and treat her to an ice cream from that fantastic place Lillian took me to in Leicester Square.

7. I will visit Daniel in Le Mans and write him more letters and cards in the meantime.

8. I will learn how to apply false eyelashes. I’ve watched countless YouTube videos and I’m still no further – I think my big problem is I’m quite impatient and finicky things frustrate me, hmph! But those crystal lashes I got from Illamasqua for Christmas aren’t going to wear themselves…

9. I will buy a pair of blue contact/circle lenses – I think they’d look really cool with my black hair!

10. I will watch at least a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock and Mad Men. I’ve never seen any of these shows and people seem to love them so I’ll have to get around to checking them out.


So how about you guys? Do you make resolutions, or do you see them as a bunch of hooey?


Muchos love,
MessyCarla.