M. and the Queen

As I’ve said before, I have had many blogs over the years but none of them lasted very long. I’m always thinking of new project ideas but most of them don’t go further than the planning stage. So with this blog I wanted to challenge myself to commit to this project and develop it further than I ever did before.

M. and the Queen is not a new blog. I created it in 2015 but it took me 3 years to finally find my rhythm and getting properly involved. I think that, in the past, I wanted to post too much too soon and when I saw that I couldn’t follow through I gave up entirely. Today though, I feel like I am going in the right direction! The goal I have set myself is to post once a week so I have time to write, take pictures and edit them in time. So far, I’ve posted as many blog posts in 4 months as I did in two years. I say it’s definitely progress!

To improve the skills relevant to my career 

A few days ago, I finally found my first job and my blog, which was discussed during the interview, actually helped me get it. Indeed, as a graduate with a master’s degree in International Marketing I think that blogging can provide a relevant and useful experience to help me get better at my job. Writing a blog is a good exercise for me to learn new skills and perfect the ones I already have. For instance, blogging regularly makes me practice my writing skills. It also gives me the opportunity to improve my photography skills and to learn how to use Photoshop to edit my pictures. When I needed to set up the design of my blog I got to learn some HTML and CSS. And now that my blog is running, I get to do some community management in order to build an audience.

To help the introvert in me

Being an introvert is part of who I am. I don’t think it is drawback or a flaw but simply another way to interact with the world. However, I sometimes wish I could be more of an extrovert in some situations. Being uncomfortable while doing something doesn’t mean I can’t do it – trying to tame the introvert in me is simply a way to make me less uncomfortable doing those things.

What does it have to do with blogging? Well, two things.

First, as an introvert, blogging is a way to express myself about what love in an environment that is controlled and in which I feel safe. I think it is a first step towards expressing myself better in the real world – growing confident online to grow more confident offline.

Second, it helps me care less about what people think of me. When I was younger, I did not tell anyone I was blogging because I didn’t want people I knew to read what I’d have written. Now, I care less and less. My best friends know the address of my blog, follow me on Instagram where I talk a lot about it, and I can talk freely about it with them without feeling awkward. Also, I now can take a selfie in the street by myself which was literally impossible before because it made me way too uncomfortable. These are little things that may not even matter to you but to me they’re like tiny challenges that, in the end, can make real difference to your life. 

The next item on my list is the NYX soft mattelip cream in the shade San Paulo. I’ve had this liquid lipstick for a while but this past month I have loved to wear this pink colour on my lips. I think it is the perfect pink to give your look a pop of colour without being too ‘in your face’, if you know what I mean. I am warning you though, this is not the most long lasting liquid lipstick I’ve ever used but, unless you plan to snog someone senseless while wearing it, you should be ok with a few touch-ups after your meals. 

This month I also loved using my Too Faced ‘better than sex’ mascara. I have purchased this one a few times already but I’m including it in my October favourites because I have worn it every single day this month. I find that the brush is really great to separate my lashes and give them length and volume at the same time. Love it!

Then we have this gorgeous Becca highlighter to which I have already dedicated a post >>here<<.  This product has definitely wormed its way into my makeup routine and now I find myself reaching for it when my face looks a bit dull in order to brighten it up a bit. I don’t know what I can say more about this product except that I BLOODY LOVE IT!

Finally, the last product I’ve been using a lot and loving in October is The Body Shop tea tree oil. This gem is one of the best sellers of the brand and I can understand why. I have been using it for the past 3 weeks when my skin was looking particularly worse for wear, especially on my chin and jawline area, and I’m pissed at myself for not buying this sooner! Every night, after my usual routine, I apply a few drops on the parts of my face on the verge of a breakout as well on the few spots that I have and I can see results the next morning. My jaw line area is getting clearer every day! This is magic!

I have always liked fashion. When I was little, I would create fashion shows with my friends and wear an old pair of my grandma’s stiletto heels I found in her attic stuffed with tissues so I could (sort of) walk in them with my small feet. I have always loved buying clothes and styling them regardless of the trends – no one would ever make me wear trainers with heels, you can quote me on that!

I used to be completely oblivious to designer pieces though. I wouldn’t look for them online as the prices would make me want to cry and I didn’t go to high end designer shops because I knew in advance that it wouldn’t be in my price range so I didn’t even bother going in – and also I was sure the security guy would just eye me like a hawk the whole time because he would somehow know I am a broke 23 yo that cannot possibly afford anything in the shop just by looking at me.

However, working for Dior as a hostess for the past few months while looking for my first proper job post-college, I had the chance to see whole collections that are not out yet and pieces that will never even be sold in the shops. Every day I see people walking past me wearing Dior from head to toe like my own Dior fashion show. I admit that with my limited experience in fashion I think that a lot of the pieces look weird – I just don’t get most of it really. However, there is one thing I absolutely LOVED from the 2017 collections: the bags. 

Maria Grazia Chiuri designed a collection of flap bags with guitar-type shoulder straps in different colours and styles. My absolute favourites are definitely the ones with the blue or red ethnic kind of designs adorned with aged silver-tone medallions. I think it really gives the bags a unique personality and such a cool rock’n’roll vibe! I’m in love!

Then you can also find the same large straps in a more traditional design to match the bags.

I absolutely love the indigo blue colour of this DIO(R)EVOLUTION flap bag. I think it is the perfect bag to give a pop of colour to your outfit while staying kind of neutral still. It also exists in red and off-white. 

The final Dior bag I fell in love with is a bit different from the ones above. It is smaller than the other bags and has a golden chain instead of a strap. The ‘La lune aux oiseaux’ design hand-painted on that deep blue suede calfskin flap bag looks absolutely magical and unique. And it reminds me of a gorgeous dusted blue suede jacket with the same kind of design on the back aka the jacket of my dreams, so of course I love it!

I think that I have never been this enthusiastic about bags in my life! So, of course, the one time I am it would be about Dior bags. I think I’ll just put them on my lust list and go look at them when I am feeling down or something. I am still hoping someone will offer me one for no reason whatsoever but I think I can keep dreaming!

What about you? Do you have a favourite? What is on YOUR lust list?