arise_iron_chef

Apart from the sad Brittany-related news, today's been brilliant actually.

I met my old friend Claire at Nandos for our annual Xmas piss up. We got chatted up by the lads who sat at our next table - the first lot had an uber cute guy who looked a bit like a young Guy Garvey ("Claire, he's like a teddy bear - I just want to take him on a PICNIC!"). But they left pretty soon after, which is a shame as they smelt of expensive aftershave and were wearing wonderful suits. The second table of lads were all in their late teens and wearing Newcastle football strips, but chatted us up anyway("Are you's in Uni? You's look geet clever, like."). Which was nice, but the one eyeing me up turned out to be 17 years old and working in a carpet warehouse. Nee thanks, mate.

After polished off a bottle of wine and some peri-peri chicken, we stumbled into Opera - the cocktail bar in the Gate, but it was happy hour, when it gets full blokes after a cheap drink. We both got felt up at the bar (this guy actually slapped Claire across the arse, and winked "Alright, ginger?") but the barman took pity on us and give us our Cosmos for £2 each - so we had three.

There was a really good guy on playing guitar - and usually I despise the 'turns' on in pubs/clubs. But he played loads of stuff - like Mamas & The Papas, The Beatles, and Geordie folk songs, which made me really miss being in Newcastle!

I stole my cocktail glasses, so I can make moar Cosmos over xmas. They're my dad's favourite cocktail, the big girl.



Tomorrow is going to be just brilliant. Meeting up with the schoolies for coffee and a wander, then meeting my darling Megan for a Stateside sundae and to see Avatar. Reunions at Christmas, I do love them!

I know LJ is gonna be full of this tonight/tomorrow but she was my FAVOURITE actress, so I'm absolutely GUTTED!



Brittany Murphy.
1977 - 2009.

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"So, shut up and put your money where you mouth is, That's what you get for waking up in Vegas" sang Katy Perry. I'm ill AGAIN at the moment, so am in dire need of some good old fashioned escapism.

DRESS: Vivienne Of Holloway, £59
SHOES: Ebay, from £19.99
EYELINER: Urban Decay, £12 each.
CLUTCH: Accessorize, £25. (I got my Mam this for her birthday, and it's GORGEOUS!)
NECKLACE: Hannah Zakari, £20.
BELT: Topshop, £22.
FASCINATOR: Ebay, from £4.99.

Think big dresses, big petticoats, big makeup, big shoes, big accessories! It's Christmas anyway, so use that as an excuse to overdose on glitter and sequins.

Manchester was so much fun last week, and although it's like a mini-London with all the ace shops (my friend Sam had her first Urban Outfitters experience and got two tops on sale for under £30! Jealous!) but didn't actually do a lot of shopping because we were there on a weekend, and I CAN NOT SHOP ON A SATURDAY! It's just horrendous. But yeah, a brilliant time was had.

I really should have bought these glasses though. Especially as a tribute to the late, great Maggie Jones. They were from American Apparel:

Also much needed in this entry are shoutouts to my lovely supervisior (is this even the right term - 'boss' doesn't sound right?) Emma who waggled her animal print scarf at me this week, inspired by this entry when I was working with them in the office this week. "She went straight to Primark after she saw the entry and bought it," said Anna, office fashionista (who really puts me to shame).
And also thanks to my lovely friend Michael who came over and complimented the new layout during my shift. Heart-shapes, dude - you guys be sure to check out his awesome food blog!

Right. I'm off for more copious watching of The Office (ooh, John Krasinski! Yum! Yum!) under my blanket. What a wuss.

Muchos love,
MessyCarla

The metros were delayed this morning because the South Shields ones got overcrowded with nutters queueing up from the early hours to see Joe McElderry's homecomingand signing at HMV.

There was even an announcement over the loudspeaker telling people not to venture into South Shields at all. Uh, whut?
I'm SO not looking forward to going to Claire's on Sunday - because she lives in the street down from Joe and it's always frigging packed now.

Oh, and this was the icing on the cake:



Le sigh. The world's gone mad.

So the running joke all through college was that Megan looks like Keira Knightley.

Then this happened today:



I pretty much hate her right now. How lucky! :DD


Ooh it's been a long day at work. Beer and a burger with Sam soon!

10 Question Holiday Meme

When do you start decorating and putting up your tree?
The tree goes up before December 6th, as Nadia always likes the tree to be up before her birthday.

When do you take down your tree?
Exactly 12 days after Christmas. This is my mam's tradition, and she says it's bad luck for the rest of the year if they're kept up any longer than that. For a Catholic she can be quite supersticious.

How soon do you start shopping?
I start getting stuff the end of November, right up to the week before Christmas. 99% of my Christmas shopping is done online because it usually ends up cheaper and takes away the stress of the shops. Shopping during Christmas in actual shops is NOT enjoyable for me in any way.

Favorite Christmas movie?
Miracle On 34th Street. Whatever happened to Mara Wilson? She seemed to be in all my favourite films as a kid - A Simple Wioh, Matilda, Mrs Doubtfire...then she just suddenly disappeared.
I also loved the Muppet Christmas Carol though I haven't seen it in YEARS. Nadia's never seen it before which is a complete travesty so we're watching it tomorrow. I used to love Love Actually, but I've sickened myself of it.

Favorite Christmas song?
Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, It's Christmas And I Hate You by Paloma Faith and Josh Weller and Christmas Is Cancelled by The Long Blondes.

Eggnog or hot cider?
Neither, they're not popular in the UK - although Starbucks always have Eggnogg Lattes, but I've never tried one. I like mulled wine, though.

When do you open your gifts? Quickly or slowly?
A pretty normal speed?

What do you usually do for Christmas dinner?
My parents make traditional Christmas dinner of turkey, stuffing, vegetables, yorkshire pudding and gravy. In the evening we nibble at party food.

Any favorite traditions?
Eating cheese-flavoured snacks, scoring the TV Guide for decent Christmas telly, 'Big Fat Quiz Of The Year', the 'January Blues' Christmas dinner by mam prepares in the first days of the New Year using all the frozen leftovers, sitting up til 4.30am on New Years Day with my Dad watching 'Most Annoying Celebrities of 200_' on BBC 4. I used to watch Joolz Holland's Hootananny every year but he's had GASH bands in recent years so I'm going to be watching Graham Norton's New Year's special with Joan Rivers.

What’s one thing you’d like this Christmas?
Kurt Geiger shoes, more Poppy Z Brite books, Ugly Betty/Inbetweeners/Friends boxsets.

This made me smile on PostSecret this week:



It's so strange because everytime I have to do office work for the Ambassadors I hum it to myself, and it instantly cheers me up. (This is it here in case you're not familiar with the show)

I'm most likely manning the phones all next week by myself while they're all off doing other things. So a lot of humming is going to happen, methinks.

Or singing this. A lot. Loudly.

So my old school is spending millions totally regenerating the place - knocking down the old buildings and making new modern ones, giving it a more college-y feel.

So many lulz were had today when a fuse box bust, set the Christmas tree and stage on fire, and all the kids were sent home.

Only St Joes, I tell thee.

Hey lovers. There's a stupid campaign going on at the moment over at PinkStinks calling for the banning of pink items, clothes and toys in shops as they apparently make little girls narrow minded, and encourage sexism.

Well they'll have to prise my pink necessities from my cold dead hands. So I've put together another of my little videos:



Hope you enjoy!

Ironically, I'm doing an interview about my fashion blog pretty soon with Lisa Clark for The Sassy Mix, a website I LOOOOOOVE so so much. The ironic part is that Lisa is most famous for writing the Think Pink series - which teach girls about self esteem and self worth. Watch a video of Lisa here, she'a AWESOME!

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Hi lovers. Sorry for the mini hiatus, I've been bogged down with a million and one things going on. Lots of shopping has been happening, however - so expect some outfit posts very soon! I'm mostly at home now, so I'm having to find another position for my camera/posing-ness etc. We'll see!

My staples at the minute are navy blue and white. Think summer nauticals, but with a glam, wintery twist with the addition of sparkly jewerelly and some heels:

DRESS: Dorothy Perkins, £25.
CARDIGAN: New Look, £15.
NECKLACE: Dorothy Perkins, £7.
EARRINGS: New Look, £4.
BELT: Topshop, £22.
SHOES: New Look, £20.

Yes, I'm on a bit of a kick with Dorothy Perkins this season - their stuff is just so flattering with big shoulders and nipped waists. That dress looks simple, but is definately one of the most flattering dressed I've ever owned. I got the same design in a rose pattern, too - something I never usually do! I've also been wearing this dress a lot, which is so slinky and gives the impression of a tiny waist. Boss!

Anyhoo, I'll try and do some outfit posts this week.

Muchos love,
MessyCarla