31 August 2012

Pink Friday


Hey everyone,

I'm trying to cram seeing as much as my friends as I can as long as I'm home.
So I wore this outfit for a pub date with the schoolies.

The shops have pretty much failed me this Spring/Summer as I found no cute cotton dresses suitable for a hot Australian summer.
So I had to take to eBay, and luckily amongst others found this little bargain for only £6!



DRESS: New Look (via eBay)
CARDIGAN: H&M
BELT: ASOS
NECKLACES: Sunday Girl Accessories and River Island
BRACELETS: Various
SHOES: Primark

NAILS: Jo'Mina by Illamasqua with a coat of Magenta Divine by Models Own on my ring fingers.

See the little bracelet in the middle?
I bought matching ones for me and my sister since she's going away to university soon - they're two peas in a pod (geddit?) plus our initials on two dainty leaves.
We absolutely love them, and they're from Beazuness on Etsy.

LIPSTICK: Speak Louder by MAC.

You may have noticed I've had my hair cut and re-ombred! 

Both were done by Scott at The Birdcage Salon/Forever Long in Newcastle. I stumbled across the beautiful salon down Nun Street (locals - across the road from Reflex) and had a great experience. 

I absolutely love the colour - obviously it's much better than my own attempt with a £3 box of bleach! It's made my hair look a lot thicker, which I love. 
I also tend to have quite dry hair, so I'm taking good care of it with lots of conditioner, and also using my faithful Moroccan Oil.

But please pop along if you're local - they have really good deals on at the moment! 


And finally some pictures from my date with the schoolies. 
(Yeah, my friend Marie likes to jump in pictures a lot, haha!):

Marie, Lorna and Grahame

Blurry Libby, Sarah and Marie

Me and Marie
(Why yes, she is indeed drinking a mint julep and a peach martini at the same time. My friends are made of awesomesauce.)


As much as I'm excited to going away - one of the scariest thing is that my 'support bubble' I've had around me for the past twelve years won't be a text and a pint away! 
(I've been friends with Marie, Sarah and Lorna since Year 7 - that's first year of secondary school when we were just 11-years-old, to non-UK folk!)

However - new experiences and challenges are always a good thing.


Muchos love,
MessyCarla.


PS: Oh, and as the fangirls of Tumblr have just reminded me - happy 35th birthday to this lovely human


29 August 2012

T Minus Three Weeks


Hey everyone,

As of today it is three weeks until I leave my small town and embark on a trip to the other side of the world.

I'm flying on 20th September, but I'm travelling down to London the day before with my lovely friend Lauren who has offered to wave me off.

We're seeing two musicals (Matilda and our favourite, Les Miserables. Including the nights I was in it at school, this will be the ninth performance of the show I'll have seen!), then going for drinks before I have to get up at the crack of dawn to catch a tube to the airport.

I have three days in Hong Kong, then I'm off to Sydney!


With my two bags - my purple 45l backpack from Tog 24, and my little floral 'day pack' from ASOS.

My packing is going pretty well - I'm just in the process of getting my last few bits and bobs. 

Things like: travel plugs, a new SD card for my camera, a new USB to backup photos and documents, a padlock for the hostels with lockers and a bike lock for those that don't. As well as stocking up on my medication - including my antihistamines and asthma inhalers. (I am one of the cool, wheezy kids!)

Thank goodness for travel blogs - I've picked up so many tips and tricks from veteran travellers.
Like I wouldn't have even thought to take an empty duvet cover to snuggle in if I go to a hostel which is a bit lacking in hygiene. 
(When I was in uni, one of my friends' student house had an outbreak of scabies due to the mattresses never being cleaned or changed, and I've had a fear of parasites ever since!) 

I've been in contact with the 36 people I'll be travelling with and they seem like a sound bunch. 
It's nice that we all travel the twelve hours to Hong Kong together, where we share rooms, go on tours and have meals together - then half of us to go Australia and the other half go to New Zealand. It'll be nice having contacts in New Zealand however, as I hit Aukland on my journey home!

Anyway I've rambled a bit off topic - but what I really wanted to do is have a wee chat with you guys as to what you'd like to see on this blog when I'm on my jollies?

I bought a little netbook for just £100 from a lovely lady I found on Gumtree, which I'll be using to book hostels, contact home, store photos - but also keep you guys updated as much as I can.

However I'd like to ask what sort of content you would like to see? 
Would you still like specifically fashion and shopping posts? 
I don't intend to do a LOT of shopping as remember that everything I have will be strapped to my back for the next X months. 
But, if you'd like to see shopping areas, markets, changing room snaps plus the odd Outfit Post if I can find someone to snap me?

I know I've started adding a bit more lifestyle into this blog - but would you guys be interested in seeing what I'm getting up to day to day down under
Places I've visited, food I've eaten, people I've met etc.? 

Please let me know, as I always appreciate your thoughts - as after all, you're the ones who read my rambles!

So come on - holler at me!

Lonely Planet sent me a map, so of course I hung it on my wall.
I'm not going to last two minutes, am I?

Muchos love,
MessyCarla.


21 August 2012

100 Things in 1000 Days!


Hey everyone,

Something a bit different on the blog today.



Ever since my lovely friend Poppy (who also periodically runs her blog Bears and Bunting) began her 100 Things in 1000 Days list, I have been so intrigued to try one myself.

Lists such as these are so much more than generic 'bucket lists' you find floating around the internet including wishes such as such as 'swim with the dolphins' or 'see the world from space.'
Which don't get me wrong are rather lovely ideas, but in contrast these are small, doable things which for some reason or another I have put off.

I am running this list between today, the 21st August 2012 (when I finally finished compiling this list) and 18th May 2015 which is exactly 1000 days.

Since I am going travelling next month, I really can't think of a better time to begin being more impulsive.

Here are my 100 Things:
(I've tried to link to as many things as possible, so please feel free to give them a clicky-clicky!)


100 Things in 1000 Days! 


1. Leave 10 positive anonymous messages around Newcastle City Centre.

2. In a book shop, leave notes in some of my favourite books encouraging people to buy them.

3. Go to a burlesque night.

4. Go to another Clandestine Cake Club meeting.

5. Go on a mini-holiday/break with Daniel.

6. Go back to America.

7. Hang out with Jessica – either on her side of the Atlantic, or mine.

8. Buy a ring from SouZou Creations.

9. See The Vines live.

10. See Reel Big Fish live for the third time with dad.

11. See Placebo live for the fourth time.

12. Go charity/vintage shopping again with Sam. 04/11/2013

13. Go back to Northside Diner.

14. Buy another MAC lipstick. Russian Red 25/12/2012

15. Visit Australia. 23/09/2012 - 14/02/2013

16. Stay with someone from Couchsurfing.

17. Try a bottle of Skinny Blonde beer.

18. Don’t straighten my hair for a month.

19. Commission a Becka Griffin painting of our house when it’s finished being renovated for my parents.

20. Treat my mam to a Betty’s tea in York or Harrogate.

21. Get another tattoo. Crown on my left wrist: late Sept 2012.

22. Get another piercing.

23. Bake a marmalade drizzle cake for dad – and make it as good as/better than the one at Michelle’s wedding which he described as “the best cake I’ve ever had.”

24. Go to Unskinny Bop with Daniel.

25. Go to the cinema by myself.

26. Do another ‘a day in the life’ picture post like I used to do on Livejournal.

27. Visit Budapest, Hungary.

28. Start my Postcrossing account up again and swap postcards.

29. Watch all 20 Studio Ghibli Feature Films. PROGRESS: 1/20

30. Read a self-help book.

31. Watch a film of dad’s choice together whilst getting drunk.

32. Start donating blood again (think of the cookies!).

33. Have a week-long hiatus from the internet/social networking.

34. Sing karaoke with a live band.

35. Learn a para-para dance.

36. Go to another convention. (Last one was in 2007, I think!) Newcastle Film and Comic Con, May 2014

37. Eat street food.

38. Cosplay someone from the Gyakuten Saiban/Ace Attorney universe.

39. Make a Battle Royale collar, then wear it with my Battle Royale t-shirt whilst watching the film and it’s sequel in one awesome night.

40. Whiten my teeth.

41. Have a picnic.

42. Do another snack swap with someone from another country.

43. Buy some more Japanese fashion magazines for my collection,

44. Re-Watch all the Harry Potter films. (PROGRESS: 1/8)

45. Re-read all the Harry Potter books. (PROGRESS: 2/7)

46. Visit The Harry Potter Studio Tour.

47. Donate ‘essentials’ to Give and Make Up.

48. Give someone my last Rolo.

49. Register as an organ donor.

50. Host a dinner party.

51. Host a ‘cupcakes and cocktails’ party.

52. Take a cake decorating class.

53. Open a cookbook to a random page and make whatever is on it.

54. Master ten card games.

55. Make some form of photo collage.

56. Make a plush toy of some sort.

57. Go to the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

58. Go to the Edinburgh Book festival for the first time since childhood and see somebody give a talk.

59. Do a ‘Sibling Tag’ video with Nadia.

60. Do a ‘Best Friend’ tag video with Daniel and Sam.

61. Have a musicals night in with Lauren. (Especially watching Cannibal! The Musical) 13/03/2013

62. Go to The Swung Eight club night at World Headquarters. 15/06/2013

63. Buy an expensive edible treat from Harrods or Fortnum and Mason’s food court.

64. Buy a new nice set of underwear.

65. Sit in the audience for the recording of a television show.

66. Do a pottery craft. BEGAN 01/07/2013

67. Finish my sudoku book (without cheating!)

68. Re-buy Freak by Illamasqua. 12/05/14

69. Re-buy Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood. 12/05/2013

70. Eat pescetarian for a month.

71. Have a childish day at the Namco arcade in the MetroCentre.

72. Finish the film on my vintage camera.

73. Have a day in Alnwick and have lunch at the Cook and Barker pub in Morpeth. 29/06/2013

74. Bake Bailey’s Cheesecake Brownies.

75. Make a care package for Nadia whilst she’s at university.

76. Go to an outdoor screening of a film.

77. Remake the cream of sweetcorn soup recipe that Michael gave me.

78. Buy another dvd box set.

79. Put another ‘crazy’ colour in my hair. Bright red 09/08/2013

80. Eat a fish that still has it’s head on.

81. See comedy at The Stand.

82. Go to the Tyneside Cinema film quiz. 24/07/2013 (We came last!)

83. Have watched the IMDB Top 100. (PROGRESS: 19/100)

84. Re/Watch all 50 Disney animated classics. (Or how many they are by the time the time runs out - 54 I think.)

85. Visit Disneyland.

86. Treat myself to a fascinator from Janine Basil or Pearls and Swine.

87. Go to a ballet.

88. Go to an opera.

89. Read ‘I Am Not Myself These Days’ by Josh Kilmer-Purcell (Daniel’s favourite book)

90. Read a Julian Clary book (also recommended by Daniel) Murder Most Fab 13/10/12


91. Read Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace.

92. Walk from my house to Newcastle.

93. Win some money.

94. Watch Freaks and Geeks.

95. Buy a vintage camera. Gift from family - April 2013. 

96. Put an entire month’s pay into savings.

97. Make a wish at 12/12/12 at 12:12. 12/12/2012

98. Dress up as Lumpy Space Princess. (I can not thank Lauren enough for introducing me to Adventure Time)

99. Buy studs/spikes from eBay and customise something. My denim jacket! 08/09/12

100. Save £1 for every completed task.


What do you guys think?

Have you ever compiled a bucket list?
Or a series of doable tasks like the ones above?
Have you ever done anything on my list? Do let me know!

Every time I do something, I'll come back to this list and cross it off.
I'll also be posting a picture for everything I've done but haven't quite decided how I'll do that yet!

Watch this space.


Muchos love,
MessyCarla

17 August 2012

Turnabout Sisters


Hey everyone,

I hope everyone waiting for exam results did well. It's a pretty nerve-wracking time and I've experienced it both as a student, and also in my stint working for Clearing.
Even if you didn't get the results you wanted, there is always time to do work experience, an internship or go travelling before you sort of what you'd like to do.

My sister, Nadia, managed to get into her first choice of uni, and moves to Glasgow in three weeks which is really exciting, so we went to our uncle's for one of his amazing barbecues to celebrate.


DRESS: Internacionale via a charity shop (£4, yo!)
BELT: Dorothy Perkins
NECKLACE: River Island
BRACELETS: Various
RINGS: Dorothy Perkins
SHOES: Dorothy Perkins


LIPSTICK: Speak Louder by MAC

We had a marvellous day - the sun shone, my uncle is a great cook so there was an abundance of delicious food and - as always with our family - a decent amount of fizzy pop. 
(My uncle bought a rum punch cocktail which was sooo good!) 
We then just chilled watching TV - I can see myself getting addicted to Celebrity Big Brother again. 


My sister and I still need to sort out goodbye parties with our friends - she's leaving September 7th and I'm leaving September 19th. 
It's going to be sad definitely, but with modern technology it isn't going to be difficult keeping in touch. 
Plus, I've promised to send her lots of postcards to decorate her halls of residence. 

I'll leave you all with one of my favourite pictures of us from around 1996-ish. Plus some of 'our' songs!


When we were younger we used to go on family holidays to places like France and Belgium, and we'd have to get the ferry over from Dover. With us both having seasickness, we used to sit in the bar sipping lemonade and watching the music channels and we always remember this being played.

   
From the same ferry ride. If you follow me on Twitter you'll know I'm not quite the biggest Oasis fan in the world (understatement of the year), but I remember this song being on all the time that summer and us both getting excited whenever we heard it.

   
The tuuuuuuune we always request on nights out. 

My fellow native English speakers will probably recognise the version Whenever, Wherever better - but this was from another holiday to Belgium, when on the last night we were getting tired and fussy so our parents let us choose where to have dinner. I think they expected us to choose a cute cafe or steak restauraunt - but we chose a tapas bar!
There were people doing tequila slammers off the bar, with pop music in Spanish blaring and I remember ordering fries and they came in little buckets which was so cute. And of course the original version was playing - so whenever we hear this, it makes us smile!

And finally, the Turnabout Sisters theme from our favourite game series - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.This is an orchestral version that was released, but feel free to click for the original and I also have Pearl Fey's theme (the character on the far right) as Nadia's ringtone when she calls my phone.


Do you and your siblings or close friends have any particular songs that mean something special or bring back wonderful memories? 
Let me know!


Muchos love,
MessyCarla



14 August 2012

A Modern Beat


Hey everyone,

Hope you're good in your hoods and enjoying the surprisingly lovely weather if you're also in the UK.

So of course what's the best colour to wear in the summertime?
Black, duh!


DRESS: Urban Outfitters
BELT: Topshop
NECKLACE: Topshop
RINGS: Dorothy Perkins
SHOES: Next


LENSES: Geo Nudy Blue (reviewed here)
EYELASHES: eBay (this seller - recommended by Victoria)
FOUNDATION: Rimmel Match Perfection in 200/Soft Beige
POWDER: Illamasqua 115
EYELINER: Rimmel Glam Eyes Liner
EYEBROWS: Wet N Wild Palette
LIPSTICK: MAC Speak Louder

All nail polishes by Barry M

I wore this outfit last night for my friend Ben's birthday party (FUN FACT: We met on a zombie walk a few years ago. I forget sometimes that I'm technically banned from The Bridges mall in Sunderland as we didn't bother getting permission. Picture here.) - which also doubled as his going away party as he is moving to London to work for one of the country's leading men's magazines. 

It was such a good night - there was a copious amount of bootay shaking, which is always a good thing.

You may also notice I've had a few inches taken off my hair - but I had such a good experience at a different salon, I'll have to save that for another post. 
I love that you can see my dip dye more now that my layers have been put back in.

Back to the dress - yes, your eyes do not deceive you - I am indeed a fat girl wearing an Urban Outfitters dress. 
I was invited a few weeks ago to photograph the Newcastle store and some of their A/W collections for you guys, seeing as I missed the grand opening in December (I was on holiday at the time):




My favourite was the new 'A Modern Beat' women's collection which was the casual rock and roll look that Urban Outfitters is know for, mixed with parkas, collared shirts, print blocking and shiny dress shoes for a more mod boy-meets-girl feel. 

I was very kindly asked if I'd like to pick out something from the collection - and I half expected to end up with a t-shirt from the men's department I could customise or an oversized cardigan. 
But I chanced trying on this dress (size L) and it fit like a little glove! 
I've been after a cute lace dress ever since I saw Claire's, and combined with a sweetheart necklace it's just perfect. (It seems that everything I have in my wardrobe at the minute is high necked which I'm getting a little tired of - a few dresses are having to be customised before I go travelling!)

But I had a lovely time meeting the staff, who were all very sweet - and I love that they all looked different and were able to express their personalities at work! Ashley, who showed me around pointed to her colleague - a pretty girl with black hair and piercings working the desk - and said: "Look, we even have a goth!" which I thought was funny. 
When I couldn't decide in my dress in black or red the girl replied: "Black. Always black." She reminded me of Richmond from The IT Crowd!

But it just goes to show that you shouldn't be put off trying clothes on in stores that don't technically carry your size!


In other news it's now less than six weeks until I leave for the sunny shores of Sydney. 
I'm planning a post on everything I'll be taking in my scarily-too-small-for-me backpack so look out for that soon!


Muchos love,
MessyCarla.


4 August 2012

OUTFIT POST: Konichiwa, Bitches!


Hey everyone,

Remember me, that girl who used to blog?

I've needed a few weeks off the grid, and have been spending quality time with my friends before I go off travelling.

My friend Grahame recently returned from working in Japan, and ever since we have been hounding him to make us delicious food, and last night we had a wonderful themed soiree.

Some of the first fashion blogs I started following on Livejournal were Japanese street fashion blogs, specifically Decora, Kodona and Lolita styles.
So as there was a Japanese inspired dress code for Grahame's party, I went for Harajuku/Elegant Gothic Lolita inspired look:



DRESS: Matalan
COLLAR: Luminia
PETTICOAT: eBay
BAG: Topshop via Lillian's blog sale
NECKLACE: Primark
HAIRBAND: Primark
SHOES: Office



CIRCLE LENSES: c/o Lens Village
FOUNDATION: Rimmel Match Perfection foundation in 200/Soft Beige
POWDER: Illamasqua 135
EYELINER: Rimmel Glam'Eyes Liquid Liner
EYELASHES: eBay
EYEBROWS: Wet N Wild Brow Palette
LIPSTICK: Gash by Urban Decay

Makeup wise I went for a dolly girl look with a matte finish to my foundation, my largest eyelashes on top and under lashes on the bottom. 
I also added my new circle lenses (these ones) sent by the lovely people at LensVillage.com

Despite the great enlargement and colour payoff, they are incredibly comfortable. 
Even with my sensitive eyes, I never felt aware of having them in!

Late night research for my outfit...

Grahame wrote all our names in Kanji for decoration - however this is the Kanji for 'banter.'
(Grahame used to write a blog called Japanter)

The menu

First course was sushi - we then went on to have tempura, miso soup, plum wine and sake.

It was such a fun night! 
I'm guessing when I get back from Australia I'll be asked to prepare a barbecue in return - hope so! 

Finally, I'll leave you with some of my favourite Japanese music. 
I don't pretend to be an expert in J-Pop/J-Rock, but these are some songs which have made their way onto my iPod over the years:








Muchos love, 
MessyCarla.