IMO - The good, the bad & the just plain ugly

America's Got Talent or Britain's Got Talent? Which is the Best? - Match 1

2013-06-06T01:09:00.000+02:00

On Tv there are hundreds of reality shows, but the ones which truly seem to join families together is the Got Talent franchise. There are various versions of the show from all over the glove, but obviously the most popular are the American and the British versions and as both are currently on the air, BGT is in its semi-finals stage, while AGT is still in the audition stage, it is a perfect time to compare these two together. So which version is the best? In the up and coming weeks, I will analyse the one aspect of these shows each week. Feel free to suggest a future 'match' and express whether you agree with the results of each week.

So drum roll please ..... First Match is between .....

The Hosts

Nick Cannon (AGT)

Ant & Dec (BGT)

All hosts are extremely likeable and funny. It is difficult to compare British humour and American humour so it would be unfair to say who is the funniest, so in regards to that aspect it is a draw. However, when one watches both shows one can immediately note a crucial difference between the hosts, Nick Cannon involves himself more with the acts and he even shows more than one time his talent, such as in the below clip;

Also Nick is also not afraid to take it a step further and help out the contestants and make their acts "better".

However, Ant and Dec do also save the day and improve contestants acts as well.

Lets not forget to mention that it hasn't been the first time that they have risked their lives during their hosting duties;

All of them are pretty great hosts. But the ultimate question is, who gets the point? Well, when one takes into consideration that Nick is on his own and has lap danced for us all, he does deserve the point.
So AGT 1 - BGT 0

Next week; we will see the Singing category. Which has the best singers?

The Good - Carrie's Coat

2013-02-05T14:53:00.000+01:00

As a 'Sex and the City' Fan and was pretty excited to watch the 'Carrie Diaries', it isn't as good as the original series and it is more toned down and teen-friendly. It is a cute series and am enjoying tuning in every week, even if it doesn't compare with the original series. Anyways I was watching last night's episode 'Fright Night' and came across Carrie wearing this gorgeous pale pink/nudish coat with pink buttons, which is to die for!

So obviously I had to do some research and apparently it is a Marc Jacobs coat! Through researching on who made the coat I also came across this great site WornOnTV which is absolutely great and it's administrator's are pretty up-to-date they have already matched a lot of outfits which appeared from several shows which aired yesterday. So click away, you'll definitely find it helpful!

The Incredibly Bad - Littlewoods Europe No More!!

2013-02-02T21:18:00.000+01:00

So yesterday, I visted the Littlewoods Europe Site and instead of finding my beloved shopping site, I found this message;

And my first reaction can be pretty much summed up in the following manner;

Then this;

I know it is just a shopping site, and there are millions like it, but I am incredibly bummed for the following reasons;

1. had a great selection of plus-sized clothing

2. reasonably priced

3. had a great selection of basics and workwear, which other plus-size sites barely offer

4. delivered to Malta

5. had a visible review section which helped a lot when making decisions before purchasing

6. had great customere service

7. great shipping rates

Now mind you, the clothes haven't always been the best quality or the best fitting as their brands seemed to have a tendency to run short on the torso length. Regardless of such disadvantage, the advantages outweigh them.

Being a plus-size girl I'm very limited in where to buy, starting from Malta where the retail shops apart from selling over-priced rubbish garments, the garments themselves are outdated, look cheap (not in the material sense but in the slutty sense) and are mostly suitable for women above their 50s. When it comes to internet sites there aren't many that ship to Malta unfortunately. The irony is many sites state they deliver to Europe and Malta is NOT included in the list. Hello there ... we have been an EU member for almost 10 years now! Some of these site owners need a geography lesson asap!

Anyway now back to Littlewoods Europe, so obviously I did some research on why they decided to no longer operate and found this comment on their facebook page explaining the situation;

For me the reason provided was quite pathetic to be honest. As all many companies need to do is just put on some stamps and ship the stuff to these countries, it is not like people have different tastes in clothing and so there isn't a supply. If they had a problem they could have just raised the delivery costs. Also from a purely business perspective opening your business to other countries increases profit, not the other way round! It's good that you need to focus on your UK and Ireland customers, but I do not think providing a service to other countries decreased such 'focus', especially when comparing the European site and the UK site, the UK customers still had more choices, while the European site had much less choices in comparison. Moreover, if they wanted more customers in the international market, then they should have advertised. I only found this site less than a year ago, because a friend told me about it and she found out about it when she was looking for a specific brand and not because she saw an advert! Other sites like boohoo, Asos and Newlook do bother in advertising and also have more active Facebook pages, which has shown to help in increasing business. Instead of closing the site, Littlewoods should have fired their marketing team as it did a lousy job.

I hope the company changes its mind, as I'm not the only one expressing my disappointment that the company is not offering its services to us Europeans.

If any readers out there have knowledge of other plus-size sites which offer reasonable shipping and priced clothing and is within the EU (I don't wish to end up paying a huge amount in tax for ordering outside the EU) then please do share.

MaxFactor Mastertouch Concealer Review

2013-01-14T20:53:00.000+01:00

Hey all,

I'm back. It has been ages since I last wrote something on this blog, but now I'm back with more reviews, which hopefully you'll find helpful before making any purchases.

Today I am reviewing the MaxFactor Mastertouch Concealer, which I have just now completely finished and therefore can provide you with a better review of how this product performed thourhg different seasons.

About the product in general;

It comes in a pen like shape and the product comes out from the sponge applicator after you twist it until the desired amount comes out. When you buy it for the first time, you'll have to twist it several times before product comes out, from then onwards all you need is a couple of twists to get a little product. It comes in three shades only, and in my opinion none of the shades available are suitable for darker skins.

MaxFactor advertises the product in the following manner;

'Ever wondered how top models keep their skin looking flawless at all times? Tried backstage by professional make-up artists at the hottest catwalk shows, new Mastertouch Concealer is a miracle product to give you the expert touch of a professional make-up artist. With an easy-to-apply texture it hides blemishes. It’s all down to a special skin smoothing applicator and light-diffusing creamy formula that makes precise coverage a breeze!'

So does it live up to Maxfactor's claims?

The concealer did help a lot to make my complexion look more radiant. Application was very easy. However, I still had to use my fingers to blend the product well as the applicator in my opinion didn't help when it came to blending.

The formula was very creamy and easy to blend. I mostly used it under my eyes or around the chin area. I'm not a very morning person and don't like to wake up early, which always results for me having little time to do my makeup as I would run late, so on most occasions before leaving my house I would just use this concealer, my mascara and lipgloss and I would be good to go. As application was very easy and the formula is very creamy and easy to blend and not very messy I was good to go in a couple of seconds. When I compare it to the Avon Concealer I have, it takes less time to apply and achieve the desired result with the MaxFactor Mastertouch Concealer than with my Avon one.

The product hid blemishes well and was not drying on my skin at all. However, I have dark circles under my eyes and this concealer didn't conceal them as well as it did for blemishes. This is quiet disappointing especially since on the product packaging itself it is shown as being specifically an Under-Eye concealer. However, to be fair it is difficult to hide dark circles. I used many products and none of them help a lot. Regardless, it did offer some help in making my dark circles look less dark and balance out my complexion.

When it comes to lasting power, like many foundations and other makeup products during the Maltese summer it is a complete disaster. After leaving my house and arrive at work, I sometimes would have to blot my face a little because of the sweat and the product would immediately come off. During the winter I had no such problem. So if you have oily skin I doubt the product would last a lot.

Would I buy again?

This is one of the very few products which I have finished completely, so that already gives adds a lot of points. Although as one can see from the image there is very little product (basically the transparent part showing the product colour is the amount you get, the black part is the mechanism of the concealer pen), the product has lasted me for almost 12 months and being used almost every working day (i.e. Monday to Friday), so don't be fooled by the small amount. I found that you don't need to use a lot of it, just twist until you get a drop of product and then dab a little on all the areas you need coverage, blend and you are good to go. However, do keep in mind that I don't have a lot of blemishes and do not suffer from acne, which is why the product has lasted a good deal for me.

So for the price of approximately 12 Euros, if you require a lot of coverage I would not recommend this product for you as for 12 Euros you can find other concealers with more product in them and probably a good coverage as well as this one. Otherwise if you just need a good all around concealer with no fuss and mess, then I would definately tell you to buy this. Indeed, I am miss using it, but first I would like to finish my other Avon concealer as I don't like throwing away stuff which can still be usable even if they are not that good.

Movie Mondays - Seven Psychopaths

2012-08-20T20:43:00.000+02:00

As some of you who may have followed my blog know I am a Cinephile and so whenever I can on Mondays I'll post trailers to movies which I have seen and liked or disliked and/or will also post movie trailers of movies which I would love to see in the future.

Seven Psychopaths - It is a dark comedy which will be out in October 2012 and the main plot involves the theft of an adorable Shi-Tzu. Considering that I love three of the cast members are; Colin Farrell, Gabourey Sidibe and Christoper Walken and the plot looks interesting it is on my 'to watch' list.

The Absolutely Bad - Lady Gaga 'Fame' Ad

2012-08-15T20:54:00.002+02:00

Who would in the right mind would want to smell like her?

If any of you out there are interested in purchasing her perfume, then this review site will give you a pretty good idea on the perfume scent itself: Click here.

Caviar Nails for Cheap!

2012-05-22T16:38:00.001+02:00

Hey readers! So I came across this video on youtube and wanted to share it with you as this tutorial will definately save you a lot of money compared to buying a kit. Enjoy!

Listen to This!

2012-05-14T21:02:00.001+02:00

Florence + the Machine's new song Breath of Life is truly an amazing song and really adds an element of epicness to the soundtrack of the up and coming movie Snow White and the Huntsman.

The Incredibly BAD - The Secret Circle is cancelled!

2012-05-12T14:19:00.001+02:00

Just after I have watched the secret circle finale yesterday, I find out that it has been cancelled! Why did the idiots of the CW cancel it? The show was their best show in my honest opinion. I am even more bummed, because the final scene gave a lot of potential for an incredibly awesome season 2 (with the potential of having more hunks on the show). I loved the show, as I always liked witchcraft related series, such as Sabrina the Teenage witch and Charmed, which all were given a decent ending.

The actors did a good job, the effects were ok, the location was beautiful, the story was really good and as a whole it offered great entertainment and also satisfied my need for a purely witch based series which there aren't any at the moment. Pity, the cancelled it when other shows with much much lower ratings got renewed, which isn't fair.

Many disappointed fans have started petitions online. However, there isn't a single one petition for all fans of the show to sign, which isn't helping in trying to help in getting it renewed. Hopefully all these online petitions to save the show floating around can be combined together. I hope that the series may be picked up by another station, but I personally doubt it as it very rarely happens. Hopefully all the actors involved will get some screen time on other shows/movies; e.g. Chris Zylka (aka Jake) will be in the new Spiderman movie (yey!).

Shame on you CW for cancelling this amazing show which was barely given decent promotion, while other shows which were given much better promotion and still got much more horrible ratings were kept (e.g. Gossip Girl).

This is the final scene of The Secret Circle, which as you can see had a lot and a lot of potential. I hate you CW!

Dear Anja Rubik,

2012-05-08T23:21:00.000+02:00

I may not be one to judge as myself I am not healthy as I fall under the plus-size category. However, protruding Bones are NOT sexy either and definitely NOT healthy-looking. Please seek medical attention as you are clearly underweight and if you have eating problems please do seek help. Otherwise, if you have none of the above, please stop at your nearest food-related shop, whether it is a diner, fast food joint, a restaurant or a supermarket and buy a decent meal and EAT IT! You are a gorgeous girl and a little bit of weight won't hurt you or your career.

Regards,

Image from styleite.com

Look Luxurious for Less - Jumpsuit/Playsuit edition

2012-05-07T19:15:00.001+02:00

All of us girls covet designer brands. However, the reality is our wages/salaries are barely enough to make ends meet, let alone buy designer brands. The situation is even much worse for us plus-size girls; when most designers do not even design for us, so those who can afford it cannot even buy it. So here are two designer jumpsuits which you can find cheaper and in your size for less! If you prefer the designer versions I also provided the links. P.S. none of the companies and sites I mentioned paid me to do this, this is just my own 'research'.


3.1 Phillip Lim Belted structured-satin playsuit €730 vs ASOS CURVE Cutwork Playsuit £35.00

Azzaro Lucilia crepe jumpsuit €995 vs So Fabulous Ruffle Sleeve Jumpsuit €57.00

If you like this post let me know and I would be glad to do more posts like these.

Dear Rihanna,

2012-05-06T12:29:00.000+02:00

Please stop with the constant illuminati symbolism in your videos and performances! I and many others are getting fed up of it, especially since in my humble opinion I think it is ruining some of your good songs for me.

Regards,
D

Listen to this

2012-05-04T21:19:00.000+02:00

Jack White's new single, Sixteen Saltines , has a very unusual twist to it, which personally at first I didn't like it, but now after listening a couple of times I am now addicted to it.

P.S. Jack will be composing the score to Disney's The Lone Ranger which will star Johnny Depp. I am already looking forward to watch this movie even though no trailer is available yet.

If only these were real!

2012-05-03T22:48:00.000+02:00

These may look like Geeked-out versions of Hello Kitty dolls. Unfortunately they are just mere illustrations made by the talented Joseph Senior. Sanrio please take note, us geeky girly girls would definitely consider buying these dolls if they were made.

from the Pop Culture Hello Kitty Series by Joseph Senior


from the Pop Culture Hello Kitty Series by Joseph Senior

If I...

2012-05-03T21:14:00.000+02:00

... had some clothing items in pastel (and obviously the money), I would definitely buy this Swarovski necklace.

Swarovski Spring Summer 2012 Collection

The disadvantage of not being rich ...

2012-05-02T19:07:00.000+02:00

... that I cannot afford these absolutely gorgeous Givenchy handbags from their Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection.

The Absolutely BAD ...

2012-05-01T21:51:00.000+02:00

... that Peplum Skirts/Dresses look horrible on my figure, which is just plain torture for me as I love this design on dresses and skirts.

from Denny Rose

from ASOS Curve

If only I knew how to walk in heels - Christian Louboutin Edition

2012-05-01T21:00:00.000+02:00

Why did heels have to be so beautiful and at the same so evil to walk in?

No to Photoshopped women on Magazine Covers!

2012-04-30T23:17:00.001+02:00

Julia Bluhm, a young girl from America, started this petition specifically for Seventeen Magazine to stop using photoshopped covers on their magazines as it is affecting young girls body image and self esteem and also health. I personally agree with this petition and hopefully if this succeeds, not only Seventeen will start publishing unaltered magazine covers but also other magazines will follow suit. If you want to sign the petition then click here.

The GOOD

2012-04-30T21:41:00.000+02:00

... that Zooey Deschanel is now a Pantene Spokesperson. I am huge Zooey Deschanel fan ever since I saw her in Failure to Launch (she was the only good thing about that movie, apart from Bradley Cooper) and have been following her ever since (mind you, not in the stalkerish sense). Zooey will be part of Pantene's Beautiful Lengths Program where wigs will be donated to those women who have lost their hair because of chemotherapy.

ASOS CURVE Blazer In Floral Print Review

2012-04-29T13:17:00.000+02:00

Recently I have bought this lovely Floral Blazer from ASOS. Unfortunately for me I have paid full price, when a few days later it can be found on sale for about half the price. You can buy it by clicking on this link: Asos Curve Blazer in Floral Print

Colour: The main colour is black and not navy blue, which was my first impression when seeing this picture. The floral pattern is really lovely and colorful, and there are basically 6 main colours in the pattern; orange, pink/fuchsia, lavendarish blue, periwinkle blue, white and gray. Therefore, one can wear this jacket with many different combinations of colours. Also I think it is important to point out that there is no purple in the jacket, unlike what the picture seems to show. The purple seen is in fact pink, which is lighter than as shown in the picture.

Material: Although it is a blazer and one would expect that the material would be similar to those tailored suit jackets, it is not. For me it is a pro, as the jacket is not uncomfortable as the material allows you to move better and it isn't as heavy. Also the material is matte, so you don't get so much shine. Considering the lightness of the material, it can be worn mostly during spring. However, if you experience hot weather like we do here in Malta, I don't suggest wearing this jacket during the summer months. In the case of winter, if one dresses some heavier clothing underneath, the jacket can be wearable.

Style: Unlike other blazers, this one has NO buttons and NO collar. The sleeves are long and the length of the jacket is just right not too short and nor too long. Therefore it has a slightly more casual feel to it. In the ASOS catalog one can also find matching capris and a matching skirt as well. I only bought the blazer, so I cannot comment on this items.

Fit: Since this Blazer doesn't come with any buttons, then it can only be worn in one style as it is shown on the model. Therefore, since there isn't the problem of having to button the blazer one can play a little bit with sizing depending on the look one is going for. In my case I bought a size 26 as usually when it comes to blazers I always have to go a size up in order for it to fit nicely and for me to feel comfortable. However, I found that the sizing of this blazer runs a little bit large and personally it would have suited me more if I went down a size or even two. The sleeves aren't tight at all, which is sometimes a problem I experience with blazers as they are usually too tight in that area. Therefore, I would suggest going down from your usual Blazer size.

Conclusion: Even though I paid full price and it looked slightly big on me, I am not disappointed with this purchase. I wore it with a black dress to a wedding and I got loads of compliments of how lovely the blazer is and how it gave my simple black dress that extra edge. Therefore, depending on the nature of your outfit I think this blazer can look great either for a special occasion or even for a causal or night out look. However, I personally do not suggest this as work attire, as it is too fun to wear to work.

I hope you enjoyed this review, feel free to ask me more questions about this product that I haven't answered or feel free to add some styling tips.

The BAD ...

2012-04-28T20:01:00.000+02:00

... that MANGO doesn't cater for plus-size girls, their collections are too beautiful to only be shared with non-plus-sized girls, we deserve some of their gorgeous stuff as well!

from the Mango pre-Fall 2012 collection

from the Mango pre-Fall 2012 Collection

You know summer is nearing when ...

2012-04-28T02:32:00.000+02:00

... companies are coming up with such lovely and fun nail polish colours.

Orly Mini Trio Summer 2012 Collection

Essie Summer 2012 Collection

Dior Summer Mix Makeup 2012 Collection

Listen to this ...

2012-04-27T22:05:00.000+02:00

If I ...

2012-04-26T22:12:00.000+02:00

lived in a fantasy medieval everything you think comes true kind of place, I would so get a dragon as a pet.