I finally succeeded in my quest to find the perfect leather (well, pleather) jacket.
It's such a wardrobe staple I feel I've been missing, but never quite found one that fits me properly (most seemed to ride up at the waist while squishing my breasticles) and I've been wearing this constantly since I bought it a few weeks ago.
I had a bit of a rummage through the sales, and found this amazing Henry Holland dress half price for £25.
DRESS: H! by Henry Holland
JACKET: Primark
BOW: Customised ASOS necklace
BELT: Dorothy Perkins
SHOES: ASOS
NAILS: Fuchsia Power by Sally Hansen, Silver by Barry M, a brand less white polish and Model's Own Nail pen.
They have lots of statement jewellery peices which are great quality for the price you pay so definitely go and check them out!
I hope you don't mind that I don't have a makeup look/face of the day picture to go with this post, but my skin has been very problematic lately and I'm rather self conscious of it.
I am wearing a NYC lip stain here in shade 494/Smooch Proof. The packaging suggests they can last for up to sixteen hours, but they start to fade for me after an hour or so.
They're very affordable though at £3.99 (and there are some on Fragrance Direct right now for only 99p) so great to try before buying the Revlon or Clinique ones with a higher price tag.
After a shaky few weeks lately, I can feel my blogging mojo coming back.
I'm planning lots of posts, including an updated room tour since I redecorated, and am thinking of starting a monthly favourites series as I always enjoy watching those on YouTube (though mine will mostly likely still be in the blogging format).
If you have any ideas on what you would like to see in future posts, remember I am always open to your suggestions - so feel free to write me a comment or send me a tweet or email! I always love hearing from you.
Finally, I'd like to wish a happy 22nd birthday to one of my best friends, Daniel.
I owe you a Nandos date and some drinks when you're finished smelly dissertation work.
Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to the winner - Lucy!
Hey everyone, I'm very excited to bring you another giveaway! The fantastic people at AppliancesOnline have offered me £80 worth of ASOS vouchers to giveaway to you guys. I'm hosting the giveaway through Rafflecopter, so all you have to do is fill in the little form below and there are lots of different ways to enter:
Unfortunately, as the vouchers are in GBP this giveaway is only open to UK residents, sorry! Here are some of my favourite pieces from ASOS at the moment for inspiration:
Best of luck, everyone!
Muchos love,
MessyCarla DISCLAIMER: Sponsored Post in collaboration with AO.com.
One of the most wonderful things about being back, is of course catching up with everyone I've missed.
And where do most of my friends congregate? At a drag competition of course!
My friend Shane (aka: Megan M'Dei) is taking part for the second year in Drag Idol 2013 in Newcastle, so I got dolled up to see him perform an Anne Hathaway inspired number (video at the bottom).
I did end up selling the majority of my party dresses and heels on eBay before I went backpacking, but a few weeks ago Simply Be sent me this amazing dress which is one of my new favourites.
(Sorry about the quality - I planned of getting ready earlier and taking a picture in natural light, but of course this didn't happen. But HOLA to my new lilac chest of drawers, non?)
I think the fascinator makes me look more like I'm either heading to the races, or dressed as an elaborately wrapped gift for a costume party.
But if you can wear a ridiculous big bow with feathers on your head anywhere, it's Rusty's in Newcastle.
Believe me, I was underdressed there.
The dress is absolutely lovely, although I believe it's currently sold out online - however there is something very similar in the same shape here and here(if you prefer long sleeves).
As always with Simply Be, I recommend sizing down a little as it is always a generous fit, especially with the elastane.
Between last weekend being spent in Glasgow with my sister eating lots of delicious food and drinking uhhmazing cocktails (one was served in a vintage cup!) and job hunting I haven't a lot of spare money to spend on 'frivolous' things, as I'm currently living off my savings.
However, when I saw via Claire and Maria that Fragrance Direct was having a 50%+ off sale, I couldn't resist treating myself.
Plus the top four drawers in my new chest are supposed to be filled with makeup.
Surely it's bad karma not to treat them to new things, right? Right.
I got everything here for under £20 including p&p. Not bad, eh?
So in doing my makeup I used a combination of old and new favourites.
FOUNDATION: Wake Me Up in shade 400/Natural Beige by Rime
POWDER: 004 by Dainty Doll
CONCEALER: 003 by Dainty Doll
EYELINER (BLACK): from Daiso
EYELINER (GOLD): Baked by Urban Decay (eyeshadow applied wet)
EYELASHES: eBay
MASCARA: They're Real by Benefit
BRONZER: Golden Tan by Covergirl
EYEBROWS: Vamp Palette by HD Brows
LIPSTICK: Dolly Pink/146 by Barry M
I'm absolutely thrilled with the Dainty Doll products.
I've tried them before, but the shades I bought were too light for me and so got bequeathed to my sister who is more porcelain.
However with the prices being £3 and under, it was worth another go and I love everything so much.
Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' already has teeny tiny little specks of sparkle in the formula, which some people love and some people hate.
I personally think it really makes your skin look amazing in photos, especially with the Dainty Doll mineral powder on top. It keeps you looking rather dewy, but very photo ready.
I think in the picture, my skin actually looks a little photoshopped - but honestly, apart from dodging the colour and adjusting the lighting and contrast I haven't touched anything else!
I also bought a lipstick and eyeliner from the range, which I've tried already and are wonderful to wear (the lipstick in particular is so moisturising!) but you'll probably see them cropping up in another blog post.
I also did my nails in leopard print again.
I sadly was not blessed with a steady hand, and am a little impatient for nail art. But if I have a spare hour or so and a few episodes of Buffy to get through, I'll give it a whirl.
Off the Shoulder and Cascade Cool (ring fingers) by Essie, with Grey Matter by Rimmel and Model's Own Nail Art Pen.
My sister collects Essie polishes and as they were going for around £2 each I couldn't resist trying them. So far, they seem to be very chip resistant with only my thumbnails coming away at the tips a few days later.
Righty-O so be sure to check out the Fragrance Direct website for some bargains.
(I promise this post is not in the least bit sponsored by them!)
And finally, if you would like to watch the drag show I went to (it was musical theatre week, if it couldn't get any more perfect) you can clicky-clicky below. (Megan M'Dei is on around the 25:10mins mark)
Go Megan! Go Megan!
Muchos love,
MessyCarla
PS: OH, I almost forgot to wish a Happy St Patrick's Day to my Irish followers.
I'm sadly not out tonight (and missing the St Patrick's theme of Drag Idol, le sob) but hope you'll all have a Guinness or three for me. Cheers!
Remember when: me, UK, outfit posts?
Remember all that good stuff that used to go on here? Expect more of that, again.
On Instagram, I've been taking pictures of the progress of my bedroom being redecorated.
It's coming along really well. The walls are painted pale pink (though they come out white in photos due to my room being so bright) and everything else is a bit of a work in progress.
However I currently have space in which to take photos indoors - which I haven't really done since the early days of this blog!
This necklace was a River Island sale find back in August - only £5!
NAILS: Jo'Mina by Illamasqua with Twinkle by Rimmel on top.
This photo shows the rich royal blue of my tights - if I was a rich girl (na na na na na na nahh) I would own all the colours.
They're seriously the best tights ever!
And my makeup:
I felt like a change from my usual black cat eye flick so experimented with sparkly, neon blue instead!
FOUNDATION: Wake Me Up in shade 400/Natural Beige by Rimmel
BRONZER: Golden Tan by Covergirl
EYELINER: Bora Bora by Stila
EYESHADOW (UNDER EYE): Baked by Urban Decay
MASCARA: They're Real by Benefit
EYEBROWS: Vamp Palette by HD Brows
LIPS: Maneater by Illamasqua with Fruit Punch lip glaze by Stila on top
Right, that's all for today!
I've just bought train tickets to visit my sister in Glasgow next week.
I am very much looking forward to being the creepy grown-up who says things like "Hey kids, so where are all the cool parties this weekend?"{/Buffy reference}
I've never been before - so if you're local be sure to holler me your favourite things to do.
Although my sister lives there, you never know what she might have missed!
It's been an incredible five-and-a-bit months, but I decided to come home.
Not for any particular reason - it's not that I wasn't enjoying myself, or feeling homesick at all - but it was the right decision for me.
It's been an amazing adventure - and I thank you all a million times for being so patient during my hiatus.
The reason it seems a little out of the blue was that I actually wanted to surprise my parents.
After my two flights (twenty three hours in the air was not fun - and I managed to mess up my already dodgy knee so I now have an attractive limp) I spent three days in London with my best friend Sam.
It was so much fun, and I wasn't too jet lagged as I was lucky enough to get a red eye from Hong Kong.
Not having much stirling on me, we had lots of dvd watching under blankets with tea and toast. Although we did have a jaunt into the city for our favourite London activity of wandering around the V&A museum then for a cheeky pint or two.
I also got to see my girl Lauren of Pocket Rocket Fashion for a date at The Diner and caught up on what everyone's been up to - I'm not going to lie, it's been hard at times being so out of the loop!
We always take a 'tourist shot' of me reading a map!
I had no winter clothes with me, so had to layer up all my Summer gear and Sam loaned me a hat and scarf.
Kylie Minogue's dressing room exhibition at the V&A. I love her so much!
Running around The Disney Store in Oxford Street like an excited child.
At one of our favourite watering holes in Central London - The Porterhouse in Covent Garden.
(We also usually go to The Maple Leaf but most of the taps were off for some reason.)
It was so much fun surprising my parents when I got back to the North.
I asked Italian Catholic Mother to go to my sister's window overlooking the road, and I was down there with my backpack waving!
Needless to say she and Papi B were very surprised!
I've been home for just over a week now, and have been enjoying some serious downtime as well as catching up with my friends which has been so much fun.
I'm definitely going try my hardest to get back into regular blogging as I really do miss it - and you all.
I seriously can't thank you all enough for your supportive comments, messages and tweets while I've been away. You guys are the best!
Dear me, where has the time gone? Have I really been away from home for four months already? Crazy.
Once again I must apologise for not blogging, but one again everything has been none-stop.
Although it was almost a month ago, I must tell you all that Christmas abroad was awesome.
Despite it being thunder and lightening and "Sydney's wettest Christmas in seventy years". That didn't deter us.
We planned to go to the beach, so we bloody well went to the beach.
On the plus side, we had the whole coast to ourselves.
And the water wasn't so cold after a bottle or two of Prosecco.
BRITS ABROAD, WOO.
This is the picture WITH the bathing suits on. Just sayin'.
We'd only just recovered from Christmas, (and managed not to catch colds - score!) when New Year was upon us.
We had tickets to the Opera House Bar to watch the fireworks and they were worth every penny.
With my roommates Olivia and Alyson waiting for sunset.
Gosh has it really been nearly a month since I posted?
Well as predicted I managed to break my netbook within the first three months of travelling.
I'm not quite sure how I managed it, just one day it refused to turn on again. I've taken it to a few shops to be fixed, and have been quoted around $300 just for repair so looks like I'll be hitting Gumtreein the near future for a replacement. Maybe I'll find a good deal when people are selling their cast-offs to replace their new Christmas presents. Fingers crossed!
However my roomie, Alyson has loaned me her's for the time being, so thought I'd update you all.
Another reason I haven't updated is we've been so busy doing fun activities during 'the silly season' as it is known down under.
Christmas is all-go at home, and I thought I'd at least get a break this year.
But no - this being Sydney there is always something to do!
Becca, me and Helen watching the snow fall inside the QVB!
Our Christmas photo/card we sent home to our families taken by the Opera House.
(Doesn't Olivia make a lovely Santa?)
We've all been lucky enough to recieve our Christmas parcels from home. Of course we're saving the presents for the 25th, but we've opened our cards to decorate our room.
My sister is studying in Glasgow so sent me a tartan Christmas/Hogmanay card!
Olivia, Alyson, Michael and Helen waiting for Santa Fest 2012 to begin.
Welcome to Australia: where Santa is too cool to travel by sleigh and reindeer.
Water skiing Santas...
...and Jet Pack Santa!
One of our favourite Saturday traditions is going to see the fireworks at Darling Harbour.
We're going to miss them after the holiday season is over.
And since 'tis the season to be jolly (and also for sugar rushes) I had to treat myself to some churros at the Village Bizarre. Well, it would have been rude not to!
Finally, I'm not sure if I'll be posting again until after Christmas - so just in case, I hope you all have a marvellous day however you spend it.
And if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you still have a few wonderful, peaceful days vegging out in front of the TV with fizzy pop, cheese flavoured snacks and sweets!
And - as always - I'll leave you with some of my favourite holiday songs:
It's Christmas (And I Hate You) by Paloma Faith and Josh Weller.
Christmas is Cancelled by The Long Blondes
Maybe This Christmas by Rex Sexsmith
Baby, It's Cold Outside by Selma Blair and Rainn Wilson
