My Blog Post at Girl Zone + Exciting News!

Hey Everyone,

I recently discovered the website GirlZone.com and think that you should all check it out!
Girl Zone is this amazing online community for teen girls that has articles on everything, ranging from fashion, beauty, and relationships, to DIY projects, book reviews, and more! I think that this website is really helpful for teens because it provides advice for important aspects of your life, such as your health, relationships, and body image - something that I think we all need to work on.

So, when I was approached by the Editor of Girl Zone to write a post for the site, I was really excited!

- You can check out my guest post about winter fashion essentials at GirlZone.com! -

There is so much great content on the site that I knew that my readers would be interested - you will not regret having a look around the site and becoming a member. There are heaps of great features so you will never get bored!

Now, for the even more exciting news, I have been asked to become a contributing blogger over at GirlZone.com! You can check out my fashion and beauty related posts once a month as well as check out all the amazing articles from other great bloggers on the site. I can't wait to see you at Girl Zone!

- I will still be posting on this blog as normal, so make sure to keep reading! -

I would like to say thank you to all my readers for your continued support, and I hope that you will follow me on my blogging journey. 

Make sure to follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram!

Thanks for Reading,

Carissa 

72 hours in Paris

Photo by Cristian Alexandrescu

Dear readers, I haven't forgotten about you, I just had this major event in my life and I didn't want to jinx it! You already know it's been always one of my biggest dreams to visit Paris. Well, it happened, thanks to an international competition, IGAM4ER !!! I put some use to my English skills and presented the concept of our game to many interesting people. Cristi, my classmate,  is the brilliant mind behind all the programming of the game and I'm so proud of him for making such a perfect prototype!

We met incredible people from all around the world and won the "Heartful Prize" of the competition, which got us so emotional! Everyone from the competition worked really hard on their projects and I loved to see all the passion and energy put into their presentations. We also managed to visit some of the most important sights, I will make a post about it once Cristi (who is also a great photographer) will give me the photos.

Prom & Ponderings

♪ Tinie Tempah - It's OK ♪

The last of year of highschool is definitely one of contrasts. I have the most impressive amount of stuff to learn and it sort of equals the amount of parties I'll attend. This month alone there might be three, and of course then comes the well-known question: "What will I wear?". This year, I'm kind of going with the flow, while listening to Tinie Tempah's new masterpiece, "Demonstration" (nobody can't convince his first album was better than this) and being calmer than last year. Still, a big question comes into my mind dreadfully: "What kind of gown should I buy for my last prom?".

The prom in question will take place in May (2014 that is) so before you jump ahead and call me crazy let me tell you some of my mates already bought their dresses for the most important event in this highschool year. Naturally, I started searching for specialized sites and I've come across to 1dress.co.uk , the site from where I took the incredible photos you can see above. This online retail store has helped me with one major thing: I've decided the three major styles I like most in a prom dress. Firstly, we're talking long prom dresses. I've given this a lot of thought and I just can't see myself finishing highschool wearing a short dress, I want an ample, feminine gown! Now , on the styles:

Daring Cuts: They're all the rage right now, designer are racing to find more subtle and unique cuts. I love them, it's just that I don't think I have the courage or the atitude to wear one shoulder prom dresses. Only time will tell, I still have a long way to go until May.

Glamour: I think I want to see some sequins on my dress, but I'm not sure on the amount, I don't want to look kitch. Maybe just for the top, as in the second photo?

Red Prom Dresses: I've always dreaded red, I have only one thing red in my closet, which I bought forced by the fact all my class had to wear the same color one day and we opted for red. Still, ever since I turned 18 I find it more appealing, but I would have to be careful about the shade of red, I don't want to remind everyone of Christmas.

So, what do you think? Do you have any advice for me, considering the fact that you've been following my fashion journey so far? One thing I found awesome abut this site is the fact they offer a 10$ discount if you use this code: xq10usdoff . And, since on Instragram today it's the usual "Throwback Thursday", I want to share a photo of me wearing my favourite long dress back in June:

Back to Black

♪ Amy Winehouse- Back to Black ♪ (& blogging)

I really thought I would post more often this summer, especially because I'm still on vacation, but in the last two weeks I've been lacking photographers (friends, my cousin, my mom, anyone??) and good weather. So there I was, trying my new number from SheInside, dying to blog about how I found my perfect little black dress and with no options whatsoever. Then it hit me: Why don't I go back to my first routine as a blogger? When I started this blog, it was just me, this white wall and my camera on self-timer mode.

I admit I got a little nostalgic and that I wasn't so content with the results, but maybe this way you get to see better the intricate lace work on my marvellous dress and its great cut. I chose to go for a punk chic style by adding my statement necklace from Zara, golden cuffs and flatforms. I love how versatile it is, I plan to wear it at a future party in a classy/feminine way.

And, since these photos are so simple and clean, maybe it's the right post to share my super exciting news: I got my driving licence on the 14th of August!! Two days after my birthday, it was one of my biggest dreams. I know it comes with a great responsibility, but we all have to admit it's a pretty awesome feeling, to be driving.

SheInside dress, Zara statement necklace, Stradivarius golden cuffs, H&M flatforms

On friendship and teenage years

♪ Fergie- A little party never killed nobody ♪

1. Me and my best friend D. in our best friend's car / 2. Lunch with my best friends , had the best sandwich spiced with tons of laughter and joy / 3. My best friend M. just got her licence and she's a natural! / 4. Me and my best friend S. at a fabulous party / 5. Gifts I, my mom and sister got for my father's birthday / 6. New obsession- there's a new cake shop in town!

Photos taken from my Instagram: marymanaila

Oh well, my past two months were so intense I can't quite sum it up accurately for you. A lot has happened, school proved to be more difficult ( I still got one more important test coming up, fingers crossed) , there were lots of parties, trips, changes and even a public speech was involved (thank God I didn't embarrass myself!). Still, there's one thing I'm certain of : I feel thankful! Thankful I've been able to go through so many interesting things, thankful I have my best friends and such a supportive family. I've also come to realize that there's only one year left of high school, which is thrilling and frightening at the same time. 

Now, let us go back to the best friends label for a bit, because I've been promising to blog about it for ages. When I was little I found the notion of  a 'best friend' confusing. It felt like such a privileged and fancy title, such a weight on my shoulders to pick only one person who I can trust with everything.  But what happens when you find 4 girls who are equally trustworthy, fun , dynamic  and who you can completely trust and relate to?  You are once again, thankful (I know it's not Thanksgiving!), you don't question the reasons why you are so lucky, and just try to make sure they know how much they mean to you! 

Oh, and let's not forget an important detail: you have fun! TONS OF FUN! You create memories, you party, you watch all the good movies and discuss all the interesting books because your teenage years and magical and you have to remember them- even the drama, as "we are who we are because a lot of reasons", written  brilliantly in The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

I find fascinating how I have with different things in common with each one of them, and that's why I have to quote C.S. Lewis :  “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

Do you have more than one best friend? Do you believe there is such thing as a best friend? And, if you finished high school , do you still keep in touch with your friends?