Tania Michele: July 2017

Monday, 31 July 2017

Monthly Favourites #27 - July

Another month is over already! We're way over half of the year gone, but it feels like it was January not two seconds ago!! I've not had the most fabulous month, but I've still tried to find some good things about June to put a smile on my face! Let's hope August is a lot better!

Song

I've been addicted to this song in July. I love RuPaul as it is, and I've been watching Todrick's video's since his 'Splits on Trees' video. This song is so catchy and I find myself bopping along to it whenever it comes on my iTunes! This video is incredible, and I've never been so attracted to a Lion before 😂

Picture

My favourite picture from this month is of my new set of DVD's that I bought on payday! I've not bought any film for a while now, so I got my hands on a few offers that were on! And I've finally got Community on DVD, so I've not got to watch grainy versions of it on YouTube anymore!

TV Show
I am so happy Game of Thrones is back!! The first episode was a good opener for the season, plus that opening with the Frey's was AMAZING. I've picked a picture from last season to avoid any spoilers!!
Episode two was on last week and what an ending. Is is wrong I have a a mini weird crush on Euron Greyjoy as his guyliner skills? Such a good episode and I am about to watch last night's as this blog post is going live...

Movie
I've been having a little Marvel marathon this month - I've done it all out of order right now, as I plan on doing a full timeline marathon sometime next month when work is a little less hectic! I'd forgot how many little funny moments were in the movie, and it makes me super excited for Infinity War!

Hope you enjoyed these faves for July! What have you loved this month yourself, from each category? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe!

Friday, 28 July 2017

Pocahontas | Disney Inspired Lookbook

I've decided to do a set of Disney Inspired Lookbooks - all inspired by the Princesses - in the run up to my Florida holiday this year! I don't think I'll be able to squeeze them all in before I actually go, but I'll do my best! Last time I created a new Jasmine look from Aladdin, and now it's time for this week's new Princess!

I am obsessed with the dress and shoes from this look!! What part of the look is your favourite, and who is your fave Disney Princess? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

Wednesday, 26 July 2017

Summer Driving Dangers*

Driving at anytime can be dangerous. Anytime you get behind the wheel, you're in control of a machine that can go up to very high speeds, potentially hurt someone if reckless, and suffer maintenance issues that can not only cause trouble to you, but to other road users.

Sure, in the winter we all prepare for the icy conditions, but there are just as many worrying things that can happen over the summer. Here are some things you need to keep an eye out for when driving this summertime!

Tyre blowouts
Tyre blowouts are on the rise during summer, for a few different reasons: overheating, wrong tread depths, wrong inflation pressures, and general wear and tear damage. You need to check your tyre pressures as often in the summer as you would during winter. Make sure to check for any damage to your tyres, such as any debris stuck in them. If you need new tires, Visit Point S to get tyres in Staffordshire, to get them checked and fitted, all in time for any road trips you want to take this year.

More traffic, more bikes
Summer brings out more traffic on the road, due to amount of people going to the beach, days out, and heading on holiday. The good weather also means that more people are out cycling, and more people on motorbikes. In Wales alone, there were 693 motorbike accidents in 2015 - 25 of which were fatal. So when you are out on the roads, be extra vigilante to check twice for bikes at junctions, and especially anytime you are on country roads.

Young drivers
It's at this time of year that the young drivers are out in force. Now school is over, they are out on the roads, going places and at times - showing off to their friends. This doesn't apply to all young drivers, but that 1% that use their cars to have fun in and race of a warm summer evening, can be a danger on the roads. Just be extra careful.

Overheating
Engines get warm and this can be damaging to your car. If you're on a long distance journey when the weather is super warm, it's best to pull over at some services every few hours, just to let the engine and car cool off! It's also the perfect time for you to hydrate yourself and get some fresh air!

There are obviously a lot more that could be added to this list, but these are the ones that I think are the most important to be aware of. Have you experienced any of this for yourself in summers past? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

post signature

*Post in collaboration with Point S Tryes

Monday, 24 July 2017

Wishlist 35

Thank the Goddess that it was payday the last Friday!! I've bought a few things already from my previous wishlists of the year, so now is the time to make a new one, ready for the next payday in 3 weeks time! I'm meant to be saving up a still, but I have a bad habit of spending!!

Like any of the goodies I've picked out for myself? And what's on your wishlist? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

post signature

Friday, 21 July 2017

Disney World Bucket List

In a few months, I will be stood back on Florida's hot ground and ready for my holiday. It honestly cannot come fast enough - I am in dire need of a holiday!!

I've been having a good look at all the Disney parks to see what rides and activities I really want to try and do while we're there. So here is a little bucket list of the things I'm hoping to try out while getting my tan on!

Have a dole whip
Try a big Mickey Mouse rice crispy treat
Ride Big Thunder Mountain
Meet Mulan
Meet Rapunzel
Meet Merida
Ride Spaceship Earth
Explore Pandora
Brave Summit Plummet!
Meet Mickey & Minnie
See the 'Kiss Goodnight' at Magic Kingdom
Watch Fantasmic
Go on the Carousel of Progress
Go in all the new shops at Disney Springs
Trade with a Jawa
Meet Star-Lord & Baby Groot
Play mini golf
Watch the new 'Happily Ever After' show
Watch the 'Rivers of Light' show
Try out Sprinkles at Disney Springs

I am so excited for this trip!! Is there anything I've missed from the list that you think I might want to do? Pleas let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

Twinkle Toes!

I dragged my friend Abbi into Lush the other day for one particular item. This Twinkle Toes dusting powder. It retails at £6.95 for 45g. The product is aimed to be used for your feet, but after doing a little digging about online, there is one other use that intrigued me.

As well as using to dust in your shoes to help with any odors and to stop your feet getting so sticky on a hot day - it's also perfect for us bigger girls who get 'chub rub'.

I have chunky ole thighs, and in the hot weather, it hurts a fair bit when wearing dresses or skirts! I read about this use on Buzzfeed and that's what caught my interest. I purchased this just as the sweltering heat started here in the UK, and it was just in time. You simply shake a bit of the product where you want to stop any rubbing, and then just smooth it across the area.

It has a really pretty shimmer to it and smells amazing. Like perfumed baby powder!

I've used this a lot when wearing dresses the past few weeks, and it's lasted 3-4 hours before it started to wear off. Which to me is perfect.

I have also used this in my flats like it's designed for - and that has worked just as well too. Plus it leaves your skin feeling super soft.

Have you tried this out before, and what do you think of the 'cub rub' method? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

post signature

Monday, 17 July 2017

I Didn't Drink Anything Fizzy For 31 Days & I Didn't Die!

Yes you read the title right.

I, a self-confessed fizzy drink addict, banned myself from drinking my fave liquids for a whole month.

And I don't mean I weaned myself off with a little bit here and there. I went full cold turkey with it.

I'm sure to some of you this isn't a major thing or achievement, but for me this is. Let me take you back a few years...

*insert dream sequence music here*

Back in 2008, when I was about 15/16 years old, I'd have coke literally all day. I'd have water for the night, but coke was my thing. I was on about 5 cans a day - sometimes more if I was out at a friend's party - and it only got worse.

By the time I was 18, I was on 8 cans a day, plus Red Bull (or the supermarket's own version!) and now alcohol as well. Surprisingly my teeth never suffered from all of this, other than a bit of discolouring here and there.

Jump forward to the end of 2013, and I had began to stop drinking as much. The caffeine was really fucking up my sleeping and giving me awful migraines. So in a bid to be good, I cut myself down to 2-3 cans a day and no more. That was a struggle for me. But I persevered and I'm at the stage where I can now have one or two cans of either coke or energy drinks a day and not feel too bad.

I know having so much sugar is bad for you and water is the better alternative, but I'm lazy and cans are so convenient to just shove in the fridge and then take out when they're nice and cool.

I'd also taken up having sparkling rosé wines again, so it was getting to be a little problem again. Not only was I now craving sugar all over again, I'd put on a little weight where the drinks were holding onto all the fatty foods I was also having.

So in May I just cut it out and stopped it all for the whole month. 31 days of no fizzy drinks at all.

I allowed myself to have sparkling water drinks - it was the fizz I needed, without the shitty side affects to it. I done 25 days straight before having a sip of some coke for a food blog post I was sponsored for, but then carried on for another 6 days afterwards with just water and some sparkling juice drinks.

I really struggled for the first 12-15 days, but it eventually got a lot easier and I barely missed coke or anything.

In that time period of 31 days, this is what happened:

I lost half a stone in weight
I managed to sleep a lot better
Had less migraines
Found a dozen new drinks I now love
I was a lot less lethargic

I had a bit of a slip in the middle of June where I was back to wine and coke for about a week - but I've been pretty good since then and have been sticking to water and milkshakes! I've struggled a little this week again, as I was out at a few bars and pubs a couple of weekends ago and slipped a bit last week - but I'm now getting back on track!

It's too hot for anything other than water - or a cheeky coke here and there - but I'm going to try and keep at this until my holiday at the end of summer!

Are you a fizz addict yourself, or are you good with your fizz intake? Let me know! And would you be able to do a month of no fizzy ban? I really tried... Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

post signature

Friday, 14 July 2017

Jasmine | Disney Inspired Lookbook

I've decided to do a set of Disney Inspired Lookbooks - all inspired by the Princesses - in the run up to my Florida holiday this year! I don't think I'll be able to squeeze them all in before I actually go, but I'll do my best! Last time I created a new Belle look from Beauty and the Beast, and now it's time for this week's new Princess!

I am obsessed with the shoes and choker from this look!! What part of the look is your favourite, and who is your fave Disney Princess? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

post signature

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

July Playlist

I've been listening to a lot of music over the past month month, so thought I would create this little list off all the songs I am loving right now! Click any of the titles to get taken to a YouTube video, so you can check them out for yourself :)

Little Mix - Power
We The Kings - Never Your Fault
Harry Styles - Carolina
We The Kings - Just Keep Breathing
Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl
RuPaul - The Beginning
Ariana Grande - One Last Time
We The Kings - Love Again
Donna Summer - MacArthur Park
Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex

Had another month of being obsessed with We The Kings, and most certainly had to include Power by Little Mix - what an anthem!! Like any of the songs above? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

Monday, 10 July 2017

Sleek Lips!

Back in February when I went to BlueWater with Nicola, we spent a long time browsing around Boots at the beauty bits, and I ended up picking these two goodies up. I then put them in a storage box to review and totally forgot about them!

So alas, five months later the review is finally here!

The lip liner is in a shade called Raisin, and is currently £4.99. The lipstick is called Smother, and is also in Boots for £4.99. I'm not a big lipstick lover, which I've mentioned a dozen times on this little blog. But something about a dark purple lipstick makes me super happy.

I can't get away with red or pink lips, unless it's a lip stain - no idea why! But if I want a lipstick to wear, then I've got a load of dark purples and a black to choose from. This one is just dark enough to work for me, and with the lip liner in a similar shade, they compliment each other really well.

Good God, I love this colour.

What goodies from Sleek do you like and what do you think of the above shades? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

post signature

Friday, 7 July 2017

Dragonfly Heels

At MCM London Comic Con last year, I found this awesome stand of geeky related shoes from a brand called DragonFly Heels. A little company from Newquay in Cornwall, they have a store on Facebook to buy their goodies from. All handmade and customised, I fell in love. I didn't buy any on the Saturday, but by Sunday I hunted the stall down and bought myself some Harley Quinn glitter heels for £50. I love them and the fact they're designed like Harley's outfits!

I started following them on Facebook, and I've also bought a Harley Quinn glitter bag to match the shoes, but I've put it somewhere in the attic and cannot find it for the life of me! The bag was £25, and all customized too, just like the shoes.

And then in May, they put up a picture of some Star Wars flats for 'May The Fourth Be With You' and I obviously had to get them!

Due to them being flats, they are super comfy, and I can wear them with a lot of different outfits! The design is mainly of Darth Vader, Bobba Fett, and a Stormtrooper. There are little studs around the edges of the shoes, adding a lovely final touch to the design. I've worn these a few times already and it so good to be able to have a sort of subtle nod to my geekiness!

I highly recommend this company if you're after customized shoes or bags for a touch of geek in your lives. Check out their recent Comic Con Stall, Mickey Mouse shoes and Ghostbusters Pumps! Have you tried DragonFly Heels before? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

post signature

Pages