My face off with Nadine Mendess

Hello lovelies!

If any of you have been following 'The Face' on Sky Living over the past couple of months then you will no doubt already have heard of the amazingly beautiful - Nadine Mendes! After a heated final face off last night Nadine came out in 4th place after making it to the final. Throughout the competition she walked til the death in catwalks and posed elegantly in photo shoots, proving her to be one of the strongest girls in the competition that is The Face. Teamed alongside her mentor Caroline Winberg, Nadine did an amazing job in the comp and will no doubt have an outstanding modelling career ahead of her. Luckily, I managed to grab her for a quick 5 minute interview with the girl herself and found out a little more about her experience on The Face.

Are you glad you're in team Caroline? 
Initially, I wanted to be in team Naomi, but I'm so thankful to be in team Caroline. I get along with all the girls and that makes the experience more enjoyable.

2. Had you done any modelling before The Face? I've been modelling part-time for 4 years, whenever I get time off from education really.

3. What is your dream campaign? (Beauty, high fashion, Marc Jacobs, vogue etc??) 
My dream campaigns would be Burberry and Victoria Secrets, both brands portray a luxurious style of living; and it would be a dream come true to live it, even just for a day.

4. What's Caroline like as a person? 
Caroline is such a lovely person, she's humble and very easy to talk to. The majority of the time it feels like she is one of the girls :)

5. What was it like to be in the presence of 3 hugely successful models? 
It's was such an honour, but at the same time scary! Their presence was so strong, and they were great at whatever modelling skills we had to learn. There was quite a lot of pressure on us as upcoming models!

6. If you could do The Face again what team would you like to be in? 
CAROLINE!!! I really loved being a part of Caroline's team and the girls were very easy to work with. I managed to learn so much with my mentor, and I was always encouraged to do better in a positive and constructive way.

7. How's life since The Face? I'm currently living abroad, as part of my university course so I been experiencing something new, travelling and having fun. I do miss the crew from The Face!

8. What top tips would you give to other aspiring models? 
Don't give up, practise a lot and don't ever forget you’re fabulous. 

9. Who was your best friend on the show? 
I got along with almost every girl in the competition but I would say Eleanor and Elaine.

10. Have you met any Celebs since appearing on the show? Yes, I met a few people from the A list :)

11. You have such flawless skin, what is your secret? 
All I do is wash, cleanse and moisturise. When I'm not modelling I don't wear a lot of make-up and I think that leaves your skin looking fresh.

12. How do you keep in shape? I always attempt to go gym or do some sort of exercise but never stick to it. I would say I'm naturally skinny.

13. Name 3 items you couldn't live without. Lip-gloss, my phone, and body lotion!

14. What was the atmosphere like in the house? We didn't spend much time at the house; it was early mornings and late nights. However the atmosphere was quite relaxed and chilled apart from elimination days when the losing teams were moody... and when most of the arguments happened.

I'm an ASOS Fashion Insider

Hey everyone! So...I've got some really exciting news for you all that I am really pleased to share with you! I am now an ASOS Fashion Insider. Woohoo! I applied for this a while back and never expected to be accepted. I didn't think I stood a chance and to be honest completely forgot about it until they emailed me with the great news. 

I am really excited  about all this. You're probably all wondering what this actually entails - well let me explain...As an ASOS Insider I will occasionally get invited to events, get all the ASOS inside goss i.e. collection previews and behind the scene shazazz. I will also get opportunities to apply for exclusive interviews and competitions along with other insiders. As well as the occasional freebies. Exciting eh? I can't really go into too much detail right now as it's kinda top secret but do know that I will be shortly be your main source of info for all things ASOS and will be getting involved in some really exciting fun things very soon :) 

Check out the video below:

Aside from receiving an email informing me of my acceptance as an ASOS Insider I also rceived the cutest parcel from them. I waited a little longer than the other insiders to receive my gift in the post as I stupidly kept missing my delivery, so in the end I just got it redelivered! It was really lovely to receive a little something in the post from such a well known company. In the box I received the following: 

• Barry M Nail Polish in 'Berry Cosmo' 
• 2 teeny finger rings, one plated and one chained
• A note from ASOS
• A Fortune Cookie

Everyone who was accepted as an insider received a gift that was especially hand picked for them. The note I received says ' Hi Lara, welcome to #AccessAllASOS! We know you like to embrace your inner goth in the colder months so here's a couple of gifts that should hit the mark'. How lovely that they went to the trouble of choosing a present so individually tailored. 

I am pleased to say that I am currently wearing my Berry Cosmo polish as I type and the rings have been clued to my fingers for the last few days. Of course the Fortune Cookie was gone within about 20 seconds of me opening my parcel (oops) and the words of wisdom inside the Cookie said 'New friends are in your new future' - I'm hoping by this they mean I'm going to make lots of new blogger friends in the coming months!  

What do you think to my gifts? :)

Desserts Delivered Newcastle

So last year my boyfriend moved up to Newcastle and introduced me to this wonderful company that delivers freshly prepared desserts and treats straight to your door. Yes you heard right - they deliver cake to your door!!

Based in Newcastle, Desserts Delivered are probably my favourite takeaway choice because I've got an awful sweet tooth and therefore they are ideal. They offer a vast choice to appeal to everyone. Their desserts vary from cheesecakes, waffles, gateaus, cupcakes and blondies to pop tarts, wonka nerds and american sodas. So Desserts Delivered pretty much cover everything. If you need your sugar fix this is definitely the place to go.

The sad thing for me is that I don't actually live in Newcastle so when I go up to see my boyfriend we always have it as a treat and he's even occasionally brought a bag full of delicious treat back for us both to sift our way through.

Last week I entered a #DessertsDelivered Instagram competition - all you had to do was upload a fan pic of your food and hashtag #DessertsDelivered, being the lucky soul I am, I was absolutely thrilled when they announced I was the winner. My prize? A free 20 pounds delivery on the chosen day of my choice. Wooohooo.

See my winning picture below:

My standard choice of desserts when we order is usually a mixture of the following:

• Reeses Peanut Butter Cheesecake
• Bailey's Cheesecake
• Strawberry Cheesecake
• Toffee & Daim Crunch Pie (my fave)
• Chocolate Sinsation
• Mint Slice
• Welches Grape Soda

Unfortunately Desserts Delivered are only based up North at present and currently deliver to the following postcodes -  NE1, NE2, NE3, NE4, NE5, NE6, NE7, NE8, NE12 & NE28.However we're hoping it wont be long before they have a bakery/confectionery supplier planted all over for the UK. 

For the time being follow them on Twitter: @DessertsDeliver

Check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DessertsDeliveredNcl

Have a browse around their website: http://www.dessertsdeliveredncl.co.uk/

My weekend in London

Hola! So its probably safe to say I had the best weekend ever. It mainly consisted of eating, shopping, a little bit more shopping and travelling. I have completely and utterly shopped my self out this weekend - thank you London for the lovely weekend and thank you also for giving my bank card a massive battering.

My city break weekend started by going for a leisurely walk into town and grabbing a quick Costa to warm my heart before catching the train to London. I made sure I was more than prepared for the trip  by arming myself with Company mag and  my trusty head phones. Also due to the fact I bought Kyle reems of Wonka Chocolate and other varieties of American Candy - we had a gift bag full of treats to munch on during our journey heading to the big smoke.

Upon arrival at Kings Cross, we immediately rushed onto to the underground and caught the tube to the ever so classy district of London - St Paul's. Since it was Kyle's birthday I booked us in at the Grange St Paul's Hotel which was located right by the St Paul's Cathedral - what a wonderful view. I don't usually do the whole touristy thing as I find it a bit cliche but whilst dragging our cases to the hotel I stopped and caught a snap of the beautiful building. 

After arguing with Siri/Google Maps & Kyle on numerous occasions we finally managed to find the hotel. One word - wow. What an utterly cosmopolitan and contemporary building! We could hardly believe our luck when we were escorted to our superior suite. The room was amazing. We even got mongrammed robes and a docking station (jazzy eh!). The main highlight for me was the power shower - it had a waterfall shower head and 3 other components shooting out steaming hot water in every direction, absolute luxury. 

As lovely as the hotel room was, unfortunately we spent hardly any time there due to other plans. After freshening up and grabbing a bite at ITSU (awesome sushi, salad and noodle bar) we headed off to Drury Lane to see Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. With this being my first show, initially I didn't really know what to expect, all I'll say is the show more than exceeded my expectations and that you MUST go and see it. It's a real show stopper and made me howl throughout. 

On Saturday morning we dragged ourselves out of bed early doors, put on our robes and strolled down to the pool and sauna which was unreal! I would more than recommend the St Paul's Grange, you really do receive  five star services. After that we shot off to Oxford Street of course. We spent far too much money and far too much time in both Nike Town & Victoria Secrets but the main thing is we enjoyed ourselves. Here's a little peek on some of my purchases:

To finish our delightful weekend off we took selfies and tucked into a yummy pork and apple casserole, served with creamy mash and veg & then proceeded to the sofa for a day filled with Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Great British Bake Off. What a beyond perfect weekend!

City Break: London

Hey guys! It's been a while I have to admit, I've been exceptionally quiet on the blogging front the past couple of weeks but due to unforeseen circumstances with family & work, I've really just not had time to blog. However, not to worry lovely readers - I'll be back on top form on Monday night to share with you all my London Experience. Yes London! I may have forgotten to mention to you all that tomorrow morning I'm whizzing off to London for the weekend as it's Kyles 20th birthday. So I'll see y'all here Monday night to give you a full rundown of the deetz. I'm thinking I may possibly do a mini haul of the items I've bought as I don't really do them sort of posts very often?

Anyways keep checking out my blog as next week I'll be uploading interviews & product reviews. I also have a Missguided sponsored Halloween themed post which I'll be uploading in the near future also (very exciting!!!)

Want to know where I'm staying this weekend? CLICK HERE

Chow for now lovelies - hope you all have an amaze weekend.
Catch you all Monday evening!!!

MAC Wish List

MAC Must-Haves/Wish List by whatlaradidnext 

As you all probably know from my previous posts on MAC foundation - I am a huge fan of MAC! If a product is that little bit more expensive but has better ingredients and qualities then I will always pay that little bit extra. Products I always buy from MAC without fail are my Foundation, Powder & Bronzer. However, the issue I face is: I see all these lovely products in MAC that I would like to purchase but god they're just so damn expensive. :( I always want to buy extras such as a brush cleanser but just cant justify it. 

In the collage above I have listed the products I really want! I currently use the Studio Fix Fluid Foundation which - don't get me wrong is really good and I've used it for the past 2 years now, but I just never feel like it lasts all day. It has great coverage and the NC 15 tone is the perfect shade for my skin (the most pale shade they do might I add) but it just doesn't last too great. So the other day I went into one of the MAC stores to discuss this with one of their make up artists. The first question she asked me was 'do you use a brush?' and of course my answer was no, which is silly really because I was bought a MAC brush set for Christmas. The reason I didn't use the foundation brush was because it always used to look 'liney' on my face but I think this was down to me being too inpatient to blend it in correctly. The first thing I did yesterday when I was doing my make up ( as the make up artist suggested) was to wash my foundation brush with some shampoo and then use it to apply my make up on. I'm so glad I listened to her because now I don't have to use as much foundation and I have a good even coverage.

She did however direct me to another foundation which is similar but has a slight more heavier finish, which was what I wanted ideally. It was the Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation aaaaand because I told her the studio fix powder I occasionally used gives me dry skin she showed me the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural which is a lot lighter on the skin and a lot kinder! So I said that when my current foundation is empty I will return and opt for these alternatives to give a try. 

With the weather getting colder and my skin being pale and extremely sensitive - I've also found some skin products that I would like to purchase at some point for my delicate skin (praying it will work wonders). First of all the Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator lets be honest even the substance in this bottle looks appealing - sparkly black! Who wouldn't want that? Anyways, this exfoliator is a blend of Volcanic Ash and Fine Sugar Crystals, the finish result is said to unclog & refine skin whilst at the same time making it soft and mineral-rich. At a quite expensive £22, I think I would be willing to try this product purely because of its unique look in appearance. Next on the skincare list regime would be the Lightful Moisture Creme  as my skin gets dry so easily and this product promises to hydrate your skin, as well as making your skin appear more luminous. The other skin care product I would really like to purchase is Mineralize Charged Water a liquid product that keeps your make up stay put all day long and replenishes your skin in the process. I often come home looking in the mirror thinking 'have I really looked like that all day' so if I could buy this product I wouldn't feel so miserable and self-conscious all the time. 

Last on my list is the primer which I really really need to invest in as it will again keep my make up on my face all day!! 

What do you think to my MAC wish list? What beauty products would you reccomend? 

Winter Wardrobe Haul

The last couple of months I have been saving for upcoming events in October and November so haven't really been able to spend any money but last week was the last straw. I just felt really fed up and felt like my wardrobe needed sprucing up a bit. Since I'd been saving for the last couple of months, I thought that I deserved to treat my self to a few new bits and bobs. So guess what?! I went and did exactly that!

Above I have displayed some of the items I purchased in various cities. The other weekend I went up to Newcastle to help my boyfriend move into his new house and since we were already in the city we thought - why not go browse the shops! The Clementine shade Ralph Lauren Shirt-Dress was purchased from the newly opened Best Newcastle. I was really happy with this dress because I think its just so versatile. I can use it as office wear for work as it looks smart - whether it be as a dress with leggings or underneath a woolly jumper. I just know I'll get a lot of wear out of it. This dress was also my first ralphy purchase ever (shocking I know!). 

 With the 12th September being the release launch date of the Rihanna for River Island collection, I was determined from the day the collection was revealed that I needed to get something from her A/W set. Everything in the collection is just so me, it's tomboyish, fierce and has an urban gangster feel to it. I pre-ordered the G4 life bralet and then bought the baseball top from the Leeds RI store on Saturday (as seen on Cara Delevingne!!). In Leeds I also picked up this vintage oversized Levis denim jacket. All the denim jackets I ever wear are normally stolen from my boyfriend and I thought it was about time I invested in my own. At a not so hefty £30 from Best Leeds, I was more than happy with the jacket. It will be a wardrobe staple for sure! I also grabbed this oversized flannel tartan shirt which will also get tonnes of wear this winter - especially with Tartan being a hit A/W trend this season.

Purchase these items for yourself!:

BEST Leeds

Rihanna for River Island

Wha

London Fashion Week

With LFW events all kicking off today, I thought I would give you a timetable of all the events going off over the next few days. Exciting stuff!

5 Minutes with Lindsey Kelk!

I've always dreamed of living the NYC/ Carrie Bradshaw-esque lifestyle. Even more so after I read the wonderful works of 'I Heart NY' by the very lovely Lindsey Kelk. 'I Heart NY' still stands as my favourite book to date, probably because it mirrors my dream lifestyle. I was very lucky to catch the best selling author for a whirlwind interview...

Hi Lindsey! First of all - How did you get into writing?

I’ve always been a writer. I used to write stories in school and at home, even from when I was in infant school – I grew up with a lot of books, it didn’t occur to me that it was weird. When I got older, it was something I did to relax and for my own enjoyment, it seems crazy to me now that the books are out there in shops and that people are reading them.

Do you feel you're living the dream?

Ha, that’s such a difficult question. I love my life and I wouldn’t change it for anything but there’s plenty of non-glam nonsense going on in the background all the time that I’m pretty sure isn’t officially part of ‘the dream’.

Where about's in New York are you based?

I live in Park Slope, Brooklyn and I love it. It’s very chill and friendly and there are lots and lots of very yummy restaurants and fun bars. Vital.

Do you think you'll live in the big apple for the rest of your life?

My friends are here, my life is here. I just can’t imagine being anywhere else right now but I guess never say never? I love London and I spend a lot of time in LA, who knows?

Out of all the books you've written, which book do you think best mirrors the antics that have happened in your life?

It’s hard to say. Obviously I live in New York, just like Angela, but I wrote that book before I moved here. As much as I wish they were based entirely on real life, the books are fictional. Sniff.

Would you say Angela Clark is somewhat a spin off of Carrie Bradshaw?

I’m a big Sex and the City fan but Angela wasn’t based on anyone. She and Carrie both live in NYC, they both like a nice pair of shoes and they’re both writers but I think that’s really where the similarities end.

When you were at school, what was your dream job? 

Definitely a writer. I flirted with the idea of being an actress for ten minutes but I’m a storyteller at heart.

Who is your favourite fashion designer?

I love lots of different designers and I’m always finding new ones to fall for. I’m definitely a big Marc Jacobs fan though, just like Angie. Shoe-wise, I am constantly crushing on YSL and with bags, I would take my arm off for anything YSL, Alexander Wang or Mulberry.

Who is your style icon?

There isn’t one person in particular, I don’t think. I often find myself in similar styles to ZooeyDeschanel and Alexa Chung but I think that’s maybe because we all have a real love of vintage shapes and styles. 90% of my clothes have stripes, polka dots and Peter Pan collars – too many of my clothes look like they belong to a four year old or a nana. It’s a curse.

If you could take 3 items of clothing on a dessert island what would they be?

Striped t-shirt, polka dot shorts, t-shirt with a cute collar dress. Done and done.

What is in your make up bag at this very minute?

I don’t have a make up bag so much as a revolving handbag full of crap that comes out of three drawers full of slap. I’m disgusting. I have so much make up. Because it’s SO hot right now, I’m just wearing the same stuff every day – Pore-Fessional Primer from Benefit, La Mer SPF colour tint, Maybelline The Eraser concealer, Estee Lauder Cello Shots cheek stain, Dior Lip Glow balm and MAC pressed powder. On the eyes, if it’s a daytime, I’m just wearing MAC Shroom with Benefit They’re Real mascara and in the evening, I love Chanel Fresh Effects cream shadow in cool gold with Nars liquid liner in Koala and Chanel Style Yeux Waterproof in Espresso all blended together. If I’m smoking it out, I’ll add the sparkly dark brown from the Nars ‘And God Created Woman’ palette. I know that all looks like pretty high end stuff but when the weather is sticky and humid, I find the better brands last that bit longer and I don’t like to wear too much bright make up in the summer. When it cools down, I’ll be back playing with my drugstore haul!

What is your favourite food?

Oh god, there’s no way I could choose one thing. Living in New York is so hard, everything is delicious. I love pizza, tapas, Chinese, BBQ… it’s impossible. Sorry.

What drink do you have on a night out?

I’m a cocktail gal, preferably gin, preferably something tart and lemony. Yum.

What would your ultimate summer playlist?

I love Desire Lines, the new Camera Obscura album. It’s gorgeous.

What inspires your books?

Everything really. Mostly I look at what’s going on in my life and how that might affect someone like me, then build a story around that.About A Girl came out of a lot of my friends losing their jobs and going through huge life changes – obviously none of them nicked their flatmate’s lives and took off to Hawaii but going to Office Angels and getting a new job wouldn’t have made a very good book…

What beauty product do you swear by?

Hydraluron is AMAZING and really helps my skin when I’m travelling, plus I love Elemis Pro-Collagen cleansing balm and Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. After that, I can’t be without Benefit They’re Real mascara or Dior Lip Glow balm and shed loads of Jergens moisturiser.

What would your ideal day consist of?

Sleep. Lots of sleep. And probably a couple of chilled out hours on the sofa vegging out to Law & Order: SVU and then lunch with a friend, a bit of shopping in the afternoon, maybe get my hair did or pop into a spa and then dinner and drinks with one of my favourite people. Bliss.

How did you go about getting your first book published?

Same way as everyone else with a twist. I actually just a made a video explaining it all on my website which you can see HERE.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers? 

The best advice anyone can give you is to just write. When I wrote I Heart New York, I was writing a blog, a diary and the book, just to get used to putting words on a page. Read as much as you can, write as much as you can and just keep going – don’t edit or second guess yourself until your first draft is done.

In a nutshell, how did you get where you are today? 

Perseverance and taking chances. Life’s too short not to try.

Lindsey is launching her new book 'I Heart Christmas' very shortly. You can pre-order it by clicking here. 

Follow Lindsey on twitter: @LindseyKelk

What is your dream lifestyle? Do you love I Heart NY?

OPI brings you their new A/W 13 Collection: San Francisco

 OPI have just launched their new collection for this A/W. It is set to be the IT nail lacquer of the season. The collection entitled 'San Francisco' brings a street style come urban coast flair to the nails and toes. With a beautiful palette ranging from moody greys and blues to gorgeous jewel ruby tones, the collection is inspired by the cities most iconic elements.

San Francisco by Lena White (The UK Distributor of OPI) has a mixture of shiny finish polishes and urban textured matte finishes called the Liquid Sand Collection.

Lena White has changed the face of the nail industry over the past 30 years by bringing her expertise and knowledge of what women want to the table. Lena knows that women want:  Instant gratification and  the effortless style that beautifully manicured hands. Lena started as a rookie nail tech back in 1976 but has since used her motto to transform the nail industry and so the finished product of this hard work is the San Francisco A/W 13 collection. Click Here to buy San Francisco shades for yourself!

A few of my favourites from the collection are shown above(from left to right):

• Muir Muir On The Wall
• Embaraca Dare Ya
• Peace & Love & OPI
• Haven't The Foggiest
• First Date At Golden Gate
• It's All San Andreas Fault

Which of these shades are you going to be flaunting this season and why?!

Urban Outfitters Wish List

I don't know about anyone else but when I'm in Urban Outfitters I spend ages looking at all the home-ware items in store. Everything is so perfect! I just want it all, so I've compiled a little list of all my faves at the minute. 

1. Scented Gel Pens - These just take me back to my childhood. In Primary School, if you owned scented gel pens you were the bomb. I never thought I'd see them again, I was so happy when I came across this cute set, I'm deffo going to purchase these in the near future, I feel very much deprived of the gorgeous strawberry smelling glitter pens right now.
2. Cara Delevingne Colouring Book - Why you ask? Why on earth not you mean, anything with Cara's face on is worth having!
3. Volunteer Book - This book really caught my eye because in a couple of years I'd like to travel the world and do some volunteer work so I feel this book would become very useful. It shows you all the hints and tips, different conservation work you can take part in and a whole host of home made herbal remedies for allergies and injuries.
4. The Label Maker - Because I am a freak when it comes to organization, ooops!
5. Macaroon Mug - Well I've never actually tried a Macaroon but they look almost too delicious to eat and look ridiculously tasty in their pastel coloured state. Pretty little Macaroons on a mug, what's wrong with that?
6. Thirsty Drink Cup - This hilarious drinks cup is too funny not to own, I'm always thirsty and so the phrase fits me well. I'm also a lover of Starbucks and this cup looks almost like an upgrade to a frappucino holder and...its PINK!
7. Pharrell book  - Pharrell is pretty much the hype of the moment with blurred lines and get lucky being massive summer hits. He is also featured in this months Vogue with Cara, therefore I must know everything about the man.
8. Doormat - This mat is so welcoming and I'd like this in my own house when I'm older.
9. Map - I've always wanted a big map of the world so that I can pin places in the world that I have visited. Hopefully when I'm older there will be no place unexplored!

Which of these items do you like best and why?!

Lara x

Product Review: Backcomb In A Bottle

                                           

Ever since I've been interested in fashion, beauty and wearing make up, all I have ever known is a life led by shockingly flat and deflated hair. Why? Why was I born with long thick hair that has absolutely no volume? And the thing is - no matter how much hair spray I use or how much I back comb my hair to death, I have never once been able to achieve a sleek look in which my hair stays in place the whole night! (Just thank your self that you aren't me!)

Anyways, I've tried every kind of hairspray, salt spray and volume spray you can think of and yet still...NOTHING.

I've been a fan of the Umberto Giannini range for a while now, especially this grungey collection which is packaged in a matte black cylinder with a silver lid that features a fashion illustration on the bottle. So after wandering past this little beauty in Boots for months on end I finally gave in to my tight fisted ways and decide to purchase the 'Backcomb In A Bottle'.

I mean great, what could be better than a spray that backcombs your hair for you without having to torture your hair with a comb and tonnes of hairspray?! 

So without babbling on anymore, without no further do, here is the verdict:

*It DOES give your hair that extra poof that you need.

*The packaging is LFW worthy (world class!).

*I wouldn't say it completely backcombs your hair for you because that is impossible.

*& It keeps your hair in place which is great

Tip: don't spray too close to your hair or it will go rock solid and look unclean - as I found out when I did it the other week. 

In other words: go grab one for yourself!