Fashion: Birthday Dress Choices 2014

Dorothy Perkins £15.00 (on sale now)!

Oasis £55.00

New Look £49.99

Miss Selfridge £39.00

Miss Selfridge £39.00

H&M £19.99

It's my birthday this Sunday and I am off to celebrate in Dublin with two of my friends for a long weekend - so excited! I am going for a big night out on the 8th and wanted a pretty dress that wouldn't break the bank. I usually go towards a darker colour seeing as a November birthday doesn't exactly scream the height of summer but I like something with a pattern or texture to keep it interesting. I'm loving shift dresses with t shirt sleeves at the moment - I tend to go for short dresses to show off my legs so like to have a high neck to cover up the 'gals' and keep it balanced.

Since writing this post I have actually bought one of these dresses but I shall do an outfit post when I go so you can see which I chose! But which one is your favourite? I could always try one of the others!

Lifestyle: Holiday to Salou

So the weather has been been pretty rubbish this week so I thought I would share my sunny pictures from my week in Salou. I went over with my family on 31st August and spent the whole week reading, drinking cocktails on the beach and getting a super tan. We stayed in an apartment and had lots of spit roast chickens from the market with salad as well as eating at some nice local restaurants. My nights were spent either on the balcony or in a bar with mojitos and a simple pack of cards playing all sorts of drinking games. I ventured around the local shops to collect some goodies and hopped on a catamaran on the last day to soak up the last of the rays.

I love my city breaks and love all inclusive resorts but sometimes a cheap trip to Spain with the fam-a-lam is all you need to reset the batteries. 

Lifestyle: Five Things I Loved in September.

1. Tartan.

I love a bit of tartan in the Autumn. So much so a few of my friends give me a gentle teasing now and again. Heck, even my nails are tartan.

2. Mojitos.

I tried a mojito years ago and it wasn't good so I just never went near them again. On holiday I needed a refreshing cocktail so tried another and I am now OBSESSED. Shame I have to stick to malibu or vodka to keep the syns down on Slimming World. There's always next summer.

3. Hannah Gale's Blog. 

She's a journalist for Metro and her posts just slay me. Always a great read and she has inspired this post. Find her here.

4. Planning Trips.

I am off to Dublin for my birthday at the start of November and have time off work over Christmas so Mia & I are going to jet off somewhere. We aren't sure where yet but it's exciting not knowing and dreaming of where we could go!

5. The Mindy Project.

I never watched it before now but I find it absolutely HILARIOUS. It's my go to Tuesday night programme on E4.

Lifestyle: Life without a phone.

My name's Tanice and I'm a social media addict. 

But this weekend something big happened. I drove my usually 50 minutes home from work sat down on the sofa and reached into my handbag to check my phone to find it wasn't there. After ringing work from my house phone I found I had left it on my desk. I deliberated going back to get it for a little while and then thought screw it I can go without it. And thus begun my 3 day weekend without my phone (Yes I had Monday off too which is why I really really thought hard about going to get it).

I've had a super busy weekend with friends and survived. I went to a see the Northampton Saints play rugby, a night out in town, bit of shopping and 2 meals out and I didn't need my phone for any of it. I didn't snapchat my drunk friend's dancing or take any selfies and I didn't check my Facebook or twitter 15 times a day. 

The reactions I've been getting have been too funny. Everyone I've come across has said they would have driven the nearly 2 hour round trip to go and get it. It kinda shocked me that everyone would be that distraught at the thought of not having their phones. Obviously I think we need to have a phone on us for safety in case we get in trouble or something but the fact is none of what them to get in contact with each other; it's all so we can be online and share how awesome our lives are! I think that's what is so great about social media - we all celebrate each other's successes. That is after all why there is no dislike button on Facebook.

It's taken this happening for me to realise just how addicted we all are to our phones, myself included. I reach for it non stop and I've only just realised now how much I do this. When was the last time you sat and watched a TV show without checking your phone, laptop or iPad? Or do you ever get your phone out at the dinner table? Surely something life changing isn't going to happen online in the next 30 minutes and if it does then someone would actually ring you. 

This weekend has been like a little intervention for me and I'd love to try and get some people to try it and see how refreshing it is to just live in the moment. I read this quote over on Becky's blog over at Milk Bubble Tea and I think it sums up what I'm trying to say perfectly;

"Sometimes the best moments are the ones that never make it to instagram because you're too busy enjoying them"

Lifestyle: Before you board a plane

I'm on the plane over to Spain for a bit of summer sun before Autumn starts! I packed way to late and am pretty sure none of my outfits match and to top it off I had a right old mare in the departure lounge. Here are my tips for you based on what just happened:

1. Make sure you pack a hand cream. I had the choice between a cheap Garnier one which leaves my hands super oily or some £15 rip off from L'Occitane. I miss my S&G Hand Food already.

2. Plan what you would like to buy. I get so excited at the prospect of all the crap I might buy (and definitely don't need) that I end up overwhelmed and  not buying a thing, except for hand cream. I was after a NARS counter but I know there's one in Sephora near Las Ramblas.

3. Buy a drink.  I'm parched on this plane & reuse to pay €3.00 for a mini can of diet coke.

4. If you already regret not buying Benefit's They're Real Push Up Liner, you definitely should have bought it. 

5. Should have got the Bose Mint headphones too. £139 is a lot for something which could be put towards a new MK bag.

6. Basically just buy what the hell you want; you are on holiday after all.

Hasta Luego!

Lifestyle: V Festival 2014

Recently I headed back to V Festival in Chelmsford for the second year running. As you may well know I had the time of my life last time and was keen to re-live it. The majority of last years festival family went along with a few new faces which made for fun new memories I will treasure forever. I saw amazing acts including The Killers, Justin Timberlake, Bastille, Ed Sheeran and so many more.

 I was going to go through the weekend and talk you through my experience but I think the pictures say much more than I ever could.

Thank you V Festival for providing me with the best weekend of 2014 so far and allowing me to create memories with some of my best friends. 

Lifestyle: Summer Soulstice 2014

Do you remember when I went to Summer Soulstice last year with my family? No? Here's the post.

As you can see it was glorious weather and even a tan was had.

Not this year.

Rain, rain and cold and rain. Not that it dampened the mood (ok it did for a while but once I got had a few ciders in me that soon changed).

Bracelets: Miss Selfridge

My Dad was asked to DJ this year which made him very happy and I was very proud to be his daughter; I definitely have the coolest Dad out of anyone I know!

"Channelling my inner farmer - nobody looks perfect being in the wet and cold all day"

The food is always great at these things - lots of food trucks serving fish & chips, Caribbean food, pasta, pizza and these wraps! Oh my God it was like chicken, chorizo, halloumi and lots of other great crap all thrown together. 

Again a really great family day out, it's so rare we get to spend time just the four of us so even though the rest of the family didn't go I'm glad we still got to have a fun day out. And an even funnier 4 mileswalk home with Dad pissed out of his head...

Fashion: Nike Blazers Liberty Edition

I've always wanted a pair of Nike Blazers. As much I hate to admit it I can be a bit of a sheep when it comes to fashion, if there's a trend I like I'll be all over it however I seem to take the plunge with things about 3 months after everyone else. And when I do join in I like to put my twist on it...like these.

When I saw Liberty where joining up with Nike for a collection I waited and waited until the release date and of course they sold out everywhere online. Not living in London meant I checked daily for online stockists to have them in but it was not to be. Cue me dragging my friend Andy around Soho to find me a pair after the first England world cup match (we were slightly hungover so big thumbs up for that)! 

I finally found some in Topshop's Oxford Circus store and spent a while deciding if I could justify spending £95.00 on them; Andy and two shop assistants insisted they were perfect for me. So of course I got them. There's only one print available but on a variety of styles. I personally love the print, it's not too girly (these are in fact unisex) but still more feminine than the other blazers out there. They look amazing with jeans and denim shorts.

I am so happy I took the plunge with these although they are more of display piece; in which I mean you wouldn't want to get these ruined at a festival or a muddy park but they are great for anything without lots of dirt (they are just too pretty to ruin).

Now if Liberty were to put their brighter prints on some more blazers I could see my bank balance having a very big problem...

Beauty: My Smooth Leg Routine

Summer is well and truly here now which means I am living in dresses, skirts & shorts. The only downside is trying to keep my pins nice and smooth but I think I have nailed a routine so thought I would share it with you!

Step One: Exfoliate

You need to start off with a good scrub down to remove any dead skin and give your legs a smooth surface. I really like any of Soap & Glory's but currently enjoying their Scrub of your life as although it really scrubs away it also foams well and moisturises. 

Step Two: Hair Removal

The bane of all our lives right? I usually dry my legs slightly and pop some shaving foam on. I find if you don't have any baby oil works wonderfully too! I love Venus razors I think they are the best and definitely worth the money. I never cut myself shaving or snag my skin at all!

Step Three: Tone.

This isn't a necessary step but I find that using a body brush once dry helps get your circulation going and reduces any signs of cellulite. I love using Champney's Mineral Detox Firming Hip & Thigh Gel* after this step to help firm things a bit. The only thing about this product is it smells like men's aftershave, which is lovely but it's slightly strange for a product aimed at women!

Step Four: Moisturise

I feel this is the most important step! Your legs are now smooth and hairless but they will be dry and not so silky to touch unless you moisturise. I have plenty to choose from but recently I've been loving LUSH's Sympathy for the Skin* which has bananas (my favourite) in it, which are known for softening the skin. This stuff lingers on you for ages and is so rich which I love as I hate moisturisers that disappear 20 minutes after putting it on.

What are your best tips for getting summer ready?