Full Swing Vintage Clothing Sale Fun

I was lucky enough to combine with a friend and sell our bits and bobs at the annual Full Swing Vintage Clothing Sale, Best of all was having a great time doing so!

As it usually is with these things I ended up with a few purchases of my own and as it is usually is with me I ended up spending more than I made. But not to worry! My purchases were worth it and I am very happy to have gotten rid of more than I bought, so at least I have more room in my wardrobe. And in the bags on the floor. and on the floor. Hmmmmm, I should really clean my room.....

I made a little sign to make me feel more legit.

Just a sample of some of the lovely things for sale.

But not her, she's my friend!

Taipei in Photos - Part 2

                          

Part of the trip included going to Tainan with friends of Duncan. These were friends who are behind the Youtube Video and project, "Why do Foreign Backpackers seldom come to Taiwan?" or 為什麼外國背包客不來台灣? 

Here is the link to their facebook page and Website:
http://www.facebook.com/17taiwan
https://flyingv.cc/project/135

It was so amazing going to see another part of Taiwan with local Taiwanese and not my big brother to help me out, I got to experience things in a different way and being filmed from the time I woke up to the time I slept added a whole new element to the process. We started off the trip by hitch-hiking from Douliu Train Station to Tainan and caught a ride with two different people.

 The first was a lovely mother and daughter that reminded me so much of myself and my mother especially their interactions with one another! They gave me a necklace for safe travels that she had hanging in her car rear view mirror which was so so so kind and made me wish I had something to give back to them.

They took us as far as they could and when we got out I only had to wait for another 15 minutes or so. The next kind driver happened to be the superintendent of a local Orphanage who was needing to go to his work but offered to take us to Tainan which was about 45 minutes away. Because he only spoke a little English I needed the help from Belle, Yoyo and Will who I was travelling with to confirm everything but It ended up being very fortuitous as we were asked to visit the children at the orphanage and stay the night. I only wish I could verbally communicate with the children and adults because there was so much I wanted to learn, I'm going to go back in the next few years so I will make sure to learn Mandarin.

We saw some amazing things after we left the Orphanage and headed to Tainan, Here are some photos showing just a snippet.

I ate the most spectacular meal of my life at this stall. I don't know why I found it so delicious but it was. The meal was creamy, tangy, sweet, savoury and satisfying, everything you could want and more.

 

 

We also visited the largest Buddhist monastry in Taiwan and It was in such a beautiful location that you couldn't help but feel at peace.

 

This is a lemon jelly dish that was worrying to look at for me but I gave it a go and it was so delicious! The lemon was sweet but not overly and it was very refreshing.

This is what I got to look at while I ate the above mentioned Jelly dish.

This is all I have to show for my trip because soon after I caught the train back to Taipei and spent the next few days packing and posting my purchases for my flight back to Wellington. I hope you enjoyed the photos and If you are still unsure about Taiwan then have a chat with me and hopefully I can convince you otherwise.

Xie Xie 

Miss Pinup New Zealand 2013

So I got organised and sent in my application for Miss Pinup NZ 2013 a few days ago and I am feeling quite nervous about the probability of going to Auckland and competing. The rules are that 8 woman from around New Zealand compete for the title, two from Auckland, two from the Central north island, two from Wellington and two from the South Island. At the moment there are 6 of us so I'm feeling pretty good about my chances. Its something I wanted to enter last year but wasn't organised in time and I also saw the other ladies competing which made me feel like I didn't stand a chance, I still feel like I won't win but I'm hoping this will give me exposure and I will grab the attention of the right people in order to advance my performing career.

I would appreciate your support so if you have a moment please check out my entry and when voting opens on the 11th of February take another few moments to place a vote!

Here is the link and a couple more photos that I was contemplating sending through,

http://veryvintage.co.nz/miss-pinup-new-zealand/entry-anna-miranda/

All photos excluding the foosball table shot were taken by Ngahuia of Ataahua Pin Ups and you can find her at this link. The above photo was taken by my friend Lucy Wass at a weekend away in this beautiful house you can hire here.

Taipei in photos - Part 1

 Taipei reminds me a lot of New York but that may be because of the limited places I have visited. It does have that mixture of flora/fauna and dirty buildings that New York contains and the city at night comes alive with lights and people, just like New York. I've decided it's best to upload a blog post of photos so you can peruse at your convenience, Enjoy!!

The view from Duncans flat

I was wondering down an alleyway and saw these flags decorating the street.

There are so many Motorbikes, Its most definitely the main mode of transport here.

Duncan and Alex, my brother and sister, were great company those first few days.

Just one of so many shops!

Duncan, Alex, Duncans friend Dallas and I crossed that bridge and walked up that hill 

.

Here is some beer we drank on New Years Eve in Duncan's friend's Japanese Barbeque restaurant, I had some amazing food that night!

Here I am with my best attempt at a 1960s look! I had so much fun that night and got to see some amazing fireworks from the Taipei 101 building.

Here is everyone just before Duncan, Dallas and I left for the house party where we saw the fireworks! 

Over the next few days I went shopping and took some photos in the park near Duncans flat.

A highlight from the trip was seeing the Pandas at Taipei zoo, They are so cute and move faster than I thought! I had this image in mind of slow sloth like movements because I've heard about them having difficulty conceiving! Definitely not the case. 

I will make another blog post because this one is way too long!!! 

See you later in Taipei in Photos - Part 2

Taipei Treasure Hunt

Today I went op-shopping/Thrift shopping/second hand shopping. For ease I will call it treasure hunting as It really was its own experience, Just so you know I googled the place I went to today as this kind of shopping is not common in Taiwan. The building was not obviously a treasure location but once you went inside it showed its true colours. Its a multi roomed location full of antiques and old furniture, I would say it most resembles a white elephant sale to any Kiwis reading this. It wasn't bad just not what I wanted, I'm currently looking for my Out in the square outfit as I won't have time to get anything sorted when I get back to NZ and I had high hopes for this place. 

Here's the link, Its very close to the Guting Station and for anyone who wants to know more comment below.

Luckily I took photos of my outfit and I found an awesome coffee place close by!

You never wear shoes inside so here I am rocking my grandpa slippers I picked up for NZD $2 at a night market.

Unfortunately this was the only photo inside I was allowed to take!


Bu-bye, I'm off to get coffee!!

Taipei, Taiwan - Week One!

I've been in Taipei for one excellent week, So far I have partied at Luxy a night club that had sexy dancing girls and shirtless men dressed Gladiators pouring vodka into peoples mouths, gone to a Karaoke bar that was so completely different to any Karaoke I have experienced then went to a Shisha bar and spent New Years with my brother Duncan in a beautiful apartment just across the road from Taipei 101 where they had an excellent fireworks display at the stroke of midnight. The People of Taipei are friendly, helpful and polite! (Side note - Its also quite easy to get around as an English speaker)

They love their dogs!

 

And their cats!

Vintage at work – Makeup

   

MWAH – Makeup Will Always Helps! 

I’m a huge fan of makeup, But I have to admit it does suck that as woman we feel obliged to wear it. Especially as looking good is enforced on us from a young age. In saying that I do think you can look on it positively and have fun with it. Something I’ve come to accept is in creating an authentic vintage look, makeup is quite important.

The day to day look I go for.

I always keep it simple at work because I have bad skin and lately haven’t been getting enough sleep so makeup is great in making me look awake! Here are the products I use but more importantly than the products is the tools you use.

What I've been using lately

1.  Start with washing your face, find products that work for you and be religious about it. You will be thankful in years to come! I always wear a daily moisturiser with sunscreen in it, as we all should.

2. Once I’ve washed and moisturised my face I put on a tinted moisturiser. The one I’m currently using is by Za and I like the light coverage it gives. It also has an SPF of 10 so again I’m making sure I have some sun protection.

3. Za also do a concealer which is the exact right shade for my skin, Its not super thick but it gives good coverage and I like how my skin looks when its on. I place it only where I feel I need it so under my eyes and on any super pimply red spots.

4. Sometimes I use a translucent powder but very rarely as it makes any dry patches show up. I do however carry a powder compact by Besame in my purse which is great when around lunchtime I need to powder my t-zone.  

Body Shop Blush in Heather Pink

5. Next is blush, I never realized how important blush is until I found the exact right shade for my face and I’ll never look back. It will vary for you as we are all different and unique but place the blush on your cheekbones and apply with a proper brush. I use a kabuki style brush which is lovely and soft. Try to apply so you give yourself a natural flush. 

Great Lash Mascara by Maybelline and The Body Shop Eyebrow/Liner Kit in 01.

6. Before I got eyelash extensions I applied mascara to my top and bottom lashes because It made my eyes stand out and I like keeping my makeup simple and neat for work.

Scarlett Johansson in The Black Dahlia

7. Eyebrows!!! I always make sure I have eyebrows. That sentence sounds funny but its not as odd as you think, I’m a redhead/ginger so I have white eyelashes and eyebrows. Not the look they went for in the 30s/40s/50s/60s/70s/80s/90s wait, they only time I can think they like the no eyebrow thing is now.

Yeah, not great for work. More importantly not great for me.

I recommend the Body shop kit in the above picture with the mascara, especially as it has a shade for redheads which is so hard to come across.

Russian Red and Lady Danger by MAC

8. Last but DEFINITLY not least, Lipstick.

I stick with a matte shade which was typical in the 40s but I do find it rather drying so I apply chapstick prior to putting on the lipstick. I suggest working with a lip liner or lipstick brush to help with precision and prevention of bleeding. I use a random red one from Natio but I have no loyalty to it as I'm sure you could find suitable ones all around the place.

I hope you found this interesting if not helpful and go ahead with implementing this into your daily routine!

MWAH!