Stila All Is Bright Set.

Jack Frost/Jingle/Holly/Jolly/Joy/Splendor/Black Cherry/Sugar Plum

Jack Frost/Jingle/Holly/Jolly/Splendor/Black Cherry/Sugar Plum

I picked this up as a Pre-Christmas to myself when I went to visit my friends in Sheffield. Stila isn't a brand I have ever tried before but I have heard about their lip glazes being some of the best on the market. I'm a toss up between a lipstick and a lip gloss lover. Sometimes you need a matte red lip and sometimes you need a subtle shine. I definitely own more lipsticks than glosses though which is why I picked this up. For £18.50 I picked up 8 colours; a saving of £74! Of course they aren't full sized but you still get ample amounts of lip goodness. 

I loved one of the colours (Joy) so much I took it on my night out the same day and of course, in true Tanice style, lost it. Hence the reason why a swatch is missing. My bad.

These are a sticky kinda lipgloss but I don't mind that much. I love the colour pay off on these, subtle but still noticeable. I hate it when you get a lip gloss which looks colourful and then comes out clear! These aren't my favourite lip products in the world but I'm still glad I bought them as they are good to have in my collection!

You can grab the set from Beauty Bay for £18.50 but some other websites have reduced their prices!

Selfridges Jewellery Wishlist

My lack of posting was due to working all weekend and I've been a trying to postpone a cold I know I'm coming down with. Not that it stopped me going out last night although I did stop drinking around 1am (I must be getting mature). 

I've really been getting into jewellery lately as fashion/costume jewellery is a cheap and effective way of shaking up an entire outfit. Of course like most girls I have a magpie sense to shiny things and one of my favourite departments in Selfridges (after the beauty department, duh) is the jewellery. I own a few nice pieces of jewellery which I have received throughout the years and would soon like to put my money towards some decent designer pieces which will last forever rather than spend lots on disposable pieces.

I think all the things I have chosen are pretty standard designer brands we think of when we think of higher end jewellery. I love Marc by Marc Jacobs best fo all and am determined to own some earrings in the near future! I discovered a gorgeous brand called Astley Clarke whilst browsing the website which does some lovely simple pieces which would fit into any wardrobe.

Duck Egg Blue.

White T-shirt - Primark

Jumper - Everours.co.uk

Black Jeans - Marks and Spencers

Legwarmers - Primark

Boots - Hunter

Bag - Primark

Bracelets - Everours.co.uk & Miss Selfridge

Watch - Michael Kors

Nail Polish - Nails Inc. Porchester Square

I planned on wearing this outfit into town yesterday but my car battery died (again) so couldn't make it in which really annoyed me as I've been stuck in the house for days (I quickly got back into my PJ's and saved it for work today!) I love this duck egg blue jumper from yesterday's www.everours.co.uk haul. It's super cosy and was only £5! My jeans are my special secret, but I will share it with all of you. I love Topshop's Leigh jeans but the colour runs and they go baggy around the knees. Mark's and Spencer's Jegging jeans are exactly like Leigh's - Super soft, nice and long and best of all retain their colour and shape. Oh and best BEST of all? Cheaper than Topshop. I managed to pick them up for £18 on a special offer so naturally picked up two. But I think they are around the £22.50 mark. You can get them here. 

Time to go to work and then hit the gym in the evening. Hopefully I can get the car to start so I can make my meeting *fingers crossed*

Some new sparkly bits (Jewellery Haul)

I've been trying to incorporate some more jewellery into my wardrobe as the simplest pieces can change an entire outfit. I went online to www.everours.co.uk and they had a fantastic sale on. I went a bit mad (as usual) but here's what I got!

I managed to scoop up this lot for £16! Fantastic value and all the products are good quality. My favourite bits are the duck egg blue jumper, the silver cross bracelet and the big green ring. I would recommend trying out the Ever Ours website as the sale is still on right now!

The one with the zebra scarf.

I love clothes and have a wardrobe which is always overflowing. So I'm going to start showing you what I wear, not everyday as I can't keep that kind of promise but when I have an outfit I like and want to share! Don't be too harsh with me - I am an OOTD virgin after all ;)

Grey dipped hem top - Primark

White vest top - Topshop

Leggings - New Look

Leg Warmers- Primark

Wellies - Hunter via Net-a-Porter

Bracelets - Pandora, Lovelinks & Unknown (The silver charm bracelet was a gift for my 13th birthday and although not much to look at is still one of my favourite pieces)!

Ring - Miss Selfridge

Scarf - Primark

Yesterday I couldn't get into work so I spent the day in my PJ's, baking and playing on Guitar Hero. I couldn't possibly eat all my flapjack and oatmeal raisin cookies on my own so I invited my friends Sophie & Chloe round for some tea. I knew we would end up doing something more than tea  so got myself dressed in something comfy and weather appropriate. I am so glad I bought my Hunter wellies in the sale - I have been wearing them constantly in the snow and no wet or cold feet for me! I raided my room the other day and realised I have an excessive amount of scarfs so have promised myself I will wear them more. This is probably my favourite scarf, a bargain from Primark which turns any monochrome inspired outfit into something a little, well, more.

We ended up playing guitar hero, going to some discount outlet stores where we all treated ourselves to a Yankee Candle . I went for Wild Passion Fruit one which is well, fruity but so good! We ended up watching Catfish a new programme on MTV which is weird but really nerve-racking & you really feel for the people in it! Check it out!

O.P.I Germany Collection Ger-Minis

Left to Right -  Nein! Nein! Nein! Ok Fine!, Don't Pretzel my Buttons, Unfor-Greta-ebly Blue, Suzi And The 7 Dusseldorfs.

During our annual family lucky dip at New Years I got this lovely gift set from O.P.I. I love O.P.I nail polishes (I find them to be so opaque so quick application) but tend to go for the mini sets as you get to try out four small bottles for pretty much the price of one bottle. The Germany collection was released in A/W 12 and they included some great colours in the Ger-minis set!

Nein! Nein! Nein! Ok Fine! - A dark grey which has some olive undertones.

Don't Pretzel my Buttons - A creamy nude which is probably my least favourite of the collection as it's a bit light for my skin tone.

 Unfor-Greta-ebly Blue - A gorgeous navy blue with a high shimmer finish. I think this is my favourite as it goes great with jeans!

Suzi And The 7 Dusseldorfs - A purple shimmer which really reminds me of the evil queen from Snow White perfectly! 

I really love this collection and I think they are gorgeous wintery colours! You can get the O.P.I Ger-Minis Collection from Beauty Bay for £12.95.

Quote 001

Source: fromupnorth.com via Tanice on Pinterest

I honestly believe that if you choose a nice outfit, your day will be brightened. You can then send that positive energy back out into the world and brighten someone else's day. Good day all round, non?

 We all know we live in a world where we are judged by the way we look, which is a total shame, but it's nature. Does the female elephant go for the little male elephant? No, she goes for the big bull. So as humans we are designed to look for potential "mates" through looks. Style is something that we can use to our advantage. As a girl, I think there's nothing hotter than a guy in a crisp black and white suit. I also like guys in track bottoms and white tees. But when the guy is wearing the scruffiest trainers I am put off. See, one little thing (a pair of shoes) can put me off fancying someone. Shallow, but true. If I judge others based on their clothing then I bet I get judged too. So knowing I took an extra 10 minutes to get ready in the morning to look my best I know I am sending out the message I want to people to receive. (The way I dress usually sends out the message that I'm happy, comfortable and ready for a long day!)

 I also believe that learning is for life; watching/reading the news daily and researching things you don't understand will help you out in the future. Some people find it hard to learn things which is fine (I'm lucky as I have a memory like an elephant & can retain info for years) but I hate ignorance. A few of my friends and family don't keep up to date in current affairs and I don't get why they can't take 5 minutes of their day to check the BBC app! I wish they would do this because 1. They look stupid when the rest of us are rambling on about the news & they are silent 2. If they don't know what's going they can sometimes be Un-PC and insensitive. I also find think there's nothing more attractive in a man than intelligence and I would rather be able to hold my own in a debate over current affairs than flutter my eyelashes like a bimbo.

This may not be a popular post with some people but I'd like to start imprinting my opinions and personality on my blog a bit more. I'm very opinionated and have a view on everything. I love finding quotes online, being inspired & think how it affects my life. Let me know your take on today's quote!

My Picks #002

#01 - Catch up.

Snow was a big part of everyones week and mine too! I was sensible on Friday and caught the bus to work. I then finished work early to catch the 7:10 bus. It never came. At 7:28 I gave up hope and started the 3 mile journey home (in the dark and bitter, bitter cold). I got through the front door at 8:37 and Mum had a big bowl of stew and dumplings waiting for me which made things 100x better! I spent Saturday (I didn't have to go in for my other job, YAY) with Mum and we walked to the local shopping centre to get coffee and buy a few bits. 

Saturday night was spent making enchiladas and nachos! I then lit my favourite candle at the moment (Yankee Candle's Pink Dragon Fruit) and tidied out my room. 

#02 Film of the week - Les Misérables 

This week I went to see this much anticipated film. My friend bawled the whole way through which says a lot but she was more excited about the release of this film then her actual life *giggles to self* . I personally thought it was an amazing film and was impressed with the younger, unknown actors and actresses (Samantha Bark really was extraordinary). Does it need to be 3 hours long? No it doesn't but you will want to see the end that badly you will only mutter under breath about the length once. 

#03 - Nails of the week

Really been loving this colour this week - It's O.P.I Unfor-Greta-Bly Blue. I love blue nails as it's my favourite colour and I own so many different shades. This one is a gorgeous navy but with a high shimmer. It is really opaque and needs no more than two coats. I didn't put a top coat on this and it was chip free for about 3 days! Look out for the collection review during the week!

#04 Decor of the week

I repainted my bedroom back in June and have had a blank wall ever since. My room is beach themed with bright turquoise and hot pink accents throughout. I found these 2 canvases for £5 and thought they will help bring the theme of the room together! Can't wait for my Dad to hang these up for me *please hurry*!

Chantecaille's Real Skin Foundation

I picked up Chantecaille's Real Skin Foundation in the Space NK sale for a lovely £10 down from £50. I have never tried anything from the brand before as most if not all the products are out of my price range, so I was really excited to be able to try something from the range.

I got the shade Vibrant which was the only colour left. I wasn't sure if it would be too dark or not but as you can see from the swatch above it is a bit darker. My skin gets a lot darker in the summer and I thought this would be perfect for when I go on holiday or the weather heats up as it contains SPF 30 which is quite high for a face product. 

The product is described as "a translucent gel foundation which a subtle dose of colour." It is a very light coverage but that's all you need in the summer time anyway. The product contains Vitamin E and Amino Acids which benefit the skin. I find the foundation to be a gel like substance but almost a powder when on the face!

 I'm really looking forward to using this in the summer - it's just a shame I can't wear it now!

Let it snow.

Ahh snow. The ultimate frenemy. On one hand it gives the world this beautiful white dusting which brings smiles to children's faces and can entertain us for a few hours. On the other hand it makes us cold, late for work and in the UK we act like it really is the apocalypse. When you get to 22, snow loses it's charm and you join the moaning grown ups, constantly check the weather report and keep peeking at the window.

The above pictures were taken at my work, I won't say where but it really is a beautiful place. I took a brief 15 minutes out of my day to pull on my Hunters and capture beautiful pics of the place.

My original plan to go to the gym after work has given in to a hot shower, my onesie and a big bowl of steaming chicken noodle soup. I plan on watching TV with my hot water bottle and lots of naughty snacks! Who's with me!?

Primark Spring/Summer 2013

It's already that time of year - the shops are starting to release their Spring/Summer collections! I'm totally a summer girl no matter how much I love Christmas. I long for hot summer days, BBQ's and ice cold ciders in the pub garden. Summer fashion is totally disposable as we may only get a 3 solid months of use out our summer get up before we bury them away for the next year and never use them again! I was most excited by Primark's collection as I find you can pick up a few staple items to carry you through the hot weather & still have change from £100 for a Rekorderlig & 99p!

My summer staple is most definitely a summer dress. My legs are probably my favourite feature as I stand tall at 5"10 & have a tan all round so it's the only bit of myself I don't mind flaunting. I just layer them with a denim jacket/light cardigan and I am good to go! Patterned dresses are my favourites and my favourite colour is blue so particularly love the two top dresses. I dress down for nights out in the summer but if I had to dress up I love the stripy bodycon midi in the bottom left! Best thing? All these dresses are under £20!

I think it's safe to say pastels and aztec are on the scene again for 2013 which is fine by me! I just love lighter colours as they just lift my mood! I absolutely love the pastel pink stripy jeans as you can dress them up or down! I love shorts when it is warmer and tend to wear them with 3/4 sleeve tops and a jacket! My biggest no no of summer is black leggings. I love them I really do but black can be saved for September - how do you expect the sun to shine if you don't!? So I try to find colourful trousers or jackets which I can mix and match!

So hot/neon pink seems quite popular doesn't it? I love a bit of neon (nothing brings out a tan better) and I always find gold jewellery looks better on me! I love Primark for a statement piece of jewellery. Sometimes Topshop's jewellery is so overpriced and let's face it as much as the pink necklace on the right will look good in August it will look plain stupid in November. Really excited to pick up a few bits when I have some money!

So they are my top picks! What's your favourite piece?

What's in my bag.

I haven't ever done one of these posts so thought I would share with you what's in my bag on a day to day basis!

The Bag

My bag is just a cheapy from Primark which cost me £12 but is very sturdy and I can fit in everything with room to spare. I always over heat or get really cold really easily depending on the weather so have enough room to throw a scarf or hat in. I always use this bag for work too as I can put my lunch and a magazine in to read on my break!

What's Inside?

Pistachios - I always keep a small bag of nuts in my bag just in case I get hungry/shaky and need a quick snack. A few of these and I feel better and ready to carry on.

Purse - My purse is from River Island and of course just carries my money and cards!

Vitamins - I have a stash at home but always forget to take them so keep some in bag just in case. I am trying to see if they make a difference to my health/energy levels over the next few months.

Phone - I have an iPhone 4S and my friend got me this lovely penguin case as I am the penguin lady.

Diary - I have a small pocket sized moleskine diary which I use to keep organised and track my spending!

Pen - Because we all need a pen.

Lip Balm - I use The Body Shop's Hemp Lip Balm religiously. I get the driest lips in the world and this is my life saver.

Love Hearts - Sometimes you need a small pop of sugar.

Perfume - I always keep a small bottle of perfume in my bag and right now it's Lady Gaga's Fame that is living in their.

Gloves - Got to keep my hand warm when browsing the high street.

Glasses - I need glasses for driving so they are always in my bag (note to self: get a glasses case)! My glasses are by Ralph Lauren and I treat them awfully but had them for 5 years!

Dental Floss - I floss my teeth a lot and am totally anal about keeping my teeth in top condition as I am scared of the dentist. I always keep some in my bag in case I get something stuck!

Of course my make up bag get's thrown in and my car keys too and I usually carry a bottle of water wherever I go to keep me hydrated!

My Picks #001

As much as I love talking about beauty and clothes I really want to share a bit more about things I have been enjoying lately. Every now and again I am going to share what has been rocking my socks in the hope you may enjoy them too! I would say I'd do it weekly but I always end up writing about something else because I get excited and have to post it right away!  I will mix up what I talk about; one week I may talk about a book I've enjoyed reading or share a recipe I've loved. Here's what I am loving this week!

#1 TV show of the week - Mr Selridge

I had to watch this on ITV Player as I was at the pub quiz. I loved it so much I don't even want to go to the pub quiz today as I must see it. It's the perfect thing for a girl like me; a mixture of history, glamour, drama & perhaps most importantly shopping. As the title probably suggest it is about the owner of my favourite shop, Selfridges. Give it a watch, you won't be disappointed.

#2 Drink of the week - Green Smoothies

I have been trying to eat really well this week & my main issue is breakfast. Sometimes I can't be bothered to make a bowl of porridge and I'm not a big fan of toast. So I've been making smoothies to fit in my flask so I can sip it on the way to work & whilst at work. There are so many recipes online but here's one I made which I love.

You will need:

2 handfuls of frozen berries
Half a frozen banana
3 tbsp of natural yoghurt
Dash of milk (I use soya)
2 handfuls of fresh baby spinach

And all you need to do is blend them in a processor!

The spinach is such a good source of goodies for your body and although the colour may not look appealing it tastes really good and there's less than 200 calories in your breakfast!


#3 Film of the week - Life of Pi

I love going to the cinema so expect to see lots of these! Life of Pi was a weird one, a long storyline which you didn't think was important until the end. It isn't a comedy but had some little bits that made you giggle & wasn't exactly a love story but was a in a strange way (confused yet)? I guess it's quite an inspiring film & it really does have you pinned on the edge of your sit.The special effects are amazing and it's the first film I've seen where I really felt seeing it in 3D made a difference.


#4 Lust of the week - Topshop Cartoon Printed Bodycon Dress

I hope my healthy smoothies will soon give me a body which will look killer in this dress. It's £29 which isn't bad at all & I have about 3 birthday nights out to celebrate with 3 different groups of friends so can get away with wearing this lots! I'm going to wait until the end of this month, get my ass to the gym 5 times a week & hopefully love this on!

#5 Product of the week - Steam Cream

I got this steam cream half price from Urban Outfitters in the sale and it finally arrived. I didn't realise it was just a moisturiser but it is rather nice. I've also slapped it on for an hour over make up and then use a hot muslin cloth to remove it along with all my make up which works quite well.


What have I been up to this week?

I've pretty much lived at the gym where I have been really enjoying Body Pump classes. It's a complete body work out using weights which help to burn more fat and build muscle and I really enjoy it. Along with my healthy eating I've been kinda following Rose's Anti Diet as she has a figure I'd kill for. Her recipes are amazing and

I got some bad news about my little car, Buddy. He has a problem with his engine which will cost me over £1000 to fix which is more then he is worth (although he is priceless to me)! Every cloud has a silver lining so I've spent today looking around car dealerships for a spankin' new car which will see me having to budget my money a lot more but will be so worth it. I am leaning towards a new Peugeot 208 or a Fiat Punto. Any thoughts? 

2013 Haircare & Skincare Wishlist

1. Charles Worthington Intense Rescue Melting Balm £16.99

2. L'Oreal Professional Mythic Oil £13.99

3. Philip Kingsley Maximizer £13.20

I've recently gone a bit lighter & had some blonde put through my hair which had made it a bit drier. I am a huge fans of oils and balms rather than sprays as I feel they nourish my hair more. I've had a lot chopped off too and find sometimes it looks a little limp so need to try get more volume in there. I think if I keep trying to find the perfect product my hair will finally look amazing!

4. Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Foaming Cleansing Wash £34.00

5. Origins Drink Up Intensive Hydrating Mask £20.00

6. Bioderma Crealine H20 Cleansing Solution £12.90

I have been after the Bioderma solution for months and managed to find it quite cheap on eBay (make sure you read reviews though)! It would be perfect for me when I am feeling extra lazy and can't make it into the bathroom to wash my make up off. I love Origins and currently only own 2 face masks, a Soap & Glory one & Clarins one which do the job but aren't amazing in my opinion!

2013 Make Up Wishlist

1. MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Stereo Rose £21.50

I saw Emma over at Milkteef review this & it looked so good on her that I will need to possess this before I go on my holidays! A bit more red than what I usually go for but I have enough pinks to last me 3 years!

2. NARS Laguna Bronzer £25.00 

I always um and ahh over this whenever I see & swatch it but have never taken the plunge. When I've run out of my over bronzers this will be making it's way into my make up bag.

3. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer £18.00

I always go on about how much I want this!

4. Stila Convertible Colours £16.00

5. Benefit Fine One-One £22.50

I think I have an obsession with blush and I really want to try out some more cream based blushers as I think they last soo much longer on me!

6. Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat £8.99

7. O.P.I Nail Envy £18.00

I always go about 6 months looking after my nails and then go and whack acrylics on them, which I do love but my nails take about 2 months to recover once I take them off. I think these two products will help me to get strong long nails and make my nail polishes last lots longer!

8. Illamasqua Red Lip Duo £26.00

9. YSL Rouge Volupté Perle £23.50

Finally some lipsticks! The Illamasqua set will be perfect for next Autumn/Winter so I can sport the glossiest red lip EVER but the YSL lipstick is without a doubt the most luxurious looking products I've ever seen. I particularly like 103 Sparkling Pink and 104 Stellar Pink. Decisions, decisions.