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I’ve decided to share with you guys some little goals and resolutions I’ve decided to set myself for the rest of the year.
September always makes me want to set a few resolutions, ever since I was little I’ve felt the new school term is like a fresh start so I usually think about where I’m heading and what I want to achieve around this time of year.

Even though I’m 22 and no longer a school student, this September is no different. The start of the new University term has got me thinking about my goals in life, and how I want to live my life.

My first resolution is to lose weight. Since living away from home I’ve put on around a stone in weight. A lot of my clothes don’t fit well anymore, and my confidence is beginning to fade! I’ve heard really good things about Slimming World and so, I’m going to my first meeting on Thursday. I’ll let you all know how it goes week to week.
September is also a good time to start the pre-Christmas diet! I don’t want to look porky in all the Christmas festivities’ photos!

My second resolution is to put more effort into University. I’m paying almost £4000 a year to attend University, yet I leave almost every assignment to last minute and wonder why I aren’t coming out with firsts!! I achieve fairly well with little effort, so I’m hoping putting more effort in will mean I achieve highly.

My third and final resolution is to be less frivolous with money. I currently work part time around University and also get student loans, yet I hardly ever have any money. I largely waste my pennies on new clothes and beauty products, along with a serious dose of socialising  So, I aim to not buy a single new item of clothing for the entire of September. I’ve also set myself a strict budget that I’m going to stick to just to prove to myself that there isn’t so much need for waste.

As part of this third resolution I’ve decided to set myself a little fashion blog challenge! I’m going to update every Sunday for the next four weeks with ‘My Weekly Wardrobe’. Every day I’ll take a picture of my outfit, and at the end of the week post a little lowdown, I’m going to try and wear something different everyday. I have that many clothes, even after taking three bags full to the charity shop, that I should be able to wear something different everyday for a month! It’ll certainly help me put the fun into not shopping!!!

So, those are my little resolutions. Is there a time of year which makes you rethink things? What would you like to change or do differently in your lives? I’d love to hear from you!!

Melissa x

I’ve decided to start off with this gorgeous dress from Rare, I chose this to highlight just how spot on Style Nibble’s personal profile was. I have a cap sleeve dress almost identical to this from Dorothy Perkins!

Personally, I don’t think you you can go wrong with skater dresses. They are eternally flattering! The way a skater dress emphasizes or gives you curves cannot be replicated, and the flared skirt can hide perhaps your wider parts -such as your hips or legs.

The high neck on most of the skater dresses around gives a really classy, and modern look. You don’t need to show your chest to be sexy girls!

What do you all think of this dress?

Love or hate?

Also, how cute is it that they pick the item for you, and have a little write up for each one with the item name, a little tip or note on the item, the shop you can buy it in, and the price. They’re just like me!

Next is this cream chunky knit jumper, I adore chunky knits! They’re so cosy and understated, but look feminine and girly.

If you want to look girly, effortless and as though you’ve simply thrown something on from your drawer but happen to just look this stunning without even trying, then team a neutral coloured chunky knit jumper with some heavy bangles, denim look leggings and nude ballet pumps! Perfection personified!

What do you guys think of this jumper?

Have you seen any others similar that you like more?

Finally we have this beautiful John Lewis shirt – I love the floral print, and the dark flowing material used for the arms will look so flattering when on!

Oh if only I could afford £129.00 for a shirt! This is one that I am going to search the high street for a copy of – as if my life depended on it!

What do you guys think of the picks Style Nibble made for me? Have I convinced you to take the quiz now!
Let me know what your results are!!

Melissa x

The quiz takes around 3 minutes and is really simple; you’re asked to pick your favourite style from a selection oh celeb photos.

These were my results;

They’re shockingly accurate! I always shop at Topshop and Miss Selffridge, I hadn’t previously heard of Marchesa, but having checked them out, their bags and bridal ranges are stunning – perhaps one to save for later days before making a purchase though!
I’ll update tomorrow with a few of the picks that Style Nibble chose for me, you can let me know what you guys think.

I’d absolutely say I like to dress with a romantic and feminine style, and when I’ve time I love to be creative with different looks. Being 22, living away from home in a city, I would like to say I try to act the ‘cosmopolitan’, ‘fun’ girl – everyone wants to be the Carrie Bradshaw character right?! As for the confidence result, I’d say confidence in myself and in my styling is definitely getting there as I get that bit older and learn more about myself.

Take the quiz here, the results are sent straight to your inbox with links to some items that will suit your style.

Let me know what you get! Are your results as accurate as mine were?

Melissa x

I love it when the new season rolls around! And to be perfectly honest, with the wash out summer we’ve had, I’ve been counting down the days until I can illegitimately wrap up in cosy dresses, cardigans and boots without crying inside because I should be in shorts and sandals!

I’ve been scouring all the online stores looking at there new arrivals and a/w previews; there are three websites who have certainly come out on top;
-  New Look
- Miss Selfridge
- Miss Guided

I’ve picked out my favourite ‘going out’ item and favourite ‘everyday’ item from each store;

I absolutely adore this dress from New look, and whats more, its only £29.99! I would say its the perfect transitional item to take you from ‘summer’ to autumn for a night out.

Its dressy, but that bit longer, and it isn’t skin tight. So you can afford to put on a little extra weight over the party season and still look stunning!

The lattice detailing takes a fairly plain dress and makes it that little bit more special and exciting.

Rock it with black and gold accessories, a studded back and black platform ankle boots for the grunge look that is simply everywhere this season!

Like I’ve said, the grunge look is certainly here to stay, I love this skull print top, its grungey but the diamante detailing makes it girly – perfect!

Add chunky rib knit leggings, military boots and a thick scarf and you’re good to go when it starts getting that little bit cooler, yes, it will get cooler than it is now!

You could dress it up with some thick jewellery, a slim fit blazer, wet look leggings and heals too – for a mere £14.99 you’ve got two outfits!

What more could you ask for?!

I love those winter days when you can snuggle up with that special person in a chunky knit watching TV and drinking hot chocolate – this is the perfect jumper for just that!

Keep things simple with some black jeans or jeggings, fluffly socks and slippers and the one you love!

Its relaxed but still cute and dressy and you know Miss Selfridge is good quality so even though its £39.99, it’ll probably last you more than just this winter! Think of it in a ‘price per wear’ way.

We all know, nights out through winter end up rainy and cold! So these floral printed leggings lend the perfect solution to being freezing cold!

They’re a cute, fashionable alternative to a dress.

Team with super high heels and a plain cami in any of the colours found in the floral design; deep blue would look perfect.

You may be a touch frightened to opt for printed leggings, but with them being such a dark colour they’ll hide a multitude of sins! And with the colour palette being along one tone you can add your accessories in almost any colour – clashing or coordinating. Perhaps violet heels, jewellery and bag?!

There just £22.00, and much more sensible for a winter night out than a short little dress!

If there is one fashion guarantee this year, its that Peplum is here to stay; tops and dresses, they’re everywhere.
They’re ultra-flattering and massive right now – why not stand out from the crowd in this stunning number from Miss Guided!

The sequins are absolutely perfect for nights out and you’ve got to have a little bit of sparkle in your wardrobe!

Just imagine the compliments you’d get in this!

Keep everything else really understated and simple, black jeans, heels and clutch, big earrings. In a stunning top like this, forget any neck-wear - its just too much, you don’t want to draw attention away from the top.

Amazingly this is just £32.99, and if you aren’t brave enough for the gold, they do it in black too.

(I might buy both!)

Finally, every girl needs a jumper dress in there wardrobe for winter.

Boots, chunky tights, and a leather biker jacket are the perfect accessories for this in the daytime.

I always think big items such as jumper dresses need to be in neutral colours like this one, in a stone/beige colour. Black will just wash you out and can be overbearing!

The little gold shoulder studs are a little homage to the grunge trend – and all for just £22.99. You could wear this right through from autumn to spring!

I feel sorry for my bank account! I can’t wait to buy everything from this little wish list.

What’re your hot autumn looks? Anything you can’t wait to buy?

Melissa x

Today I’ve decided to show you all how I got the vintage, studded short look for a fraction of the price!

I started off with a pair of black, leather style shorts that I’ve had for agessss.

I think I bought them for around £10! But they’ll be even cheaper now denim is the hot must have.

I purchased a bag of 100mm Studs from Ebay, they were an absolute bargain for just 99p & free postage!

I chose this shiny black style to coordinate with the black shorts I was intending on adding them to.

It really couldn’t be easier to put the studs on to your shorts, though on denim it may be a touch tougher.

You simply peirce the fabric with the shorts and push the spikes flat at the back.

I chose to do this on one side of the shorts at the front, and along the back pocket.
The hardest thing I found was lining them up so they’re all straight! Though I wouldn’t really say that it matters too much as when you’re wearing them you can’t tell if they’re a little uneven.

Here you can see how I started building the studs up, working my way across and down the leg.

Like I said, they’re all a little uneven but I don’t think it really matters!

Once I’d built up the studs this is what I was left with! It just added that little extra to my outfit and I could’nt have been more pleased.

This is my overall outfit , I teamed the shorts with a cream little cami, girly tights and a girly headband so I didn’t look too ‘rocky’, but I still think the shorts were really effective!

One word of warning though, as you can see, I didn’t cover the back of the studs with any fabric, which severely laddered my tights! I would suggest if you’re planning on following this tutorial, use something to cover the back so you don’t have the same problem I did!!

Hope you like the post! I’m thinking of using the left over studs on a girly backpack to make it a little more stylish, if I do, I’ll post about that too.

Melissa x

During my time in the Communications Department I was essentially an acting ‘communications assistant’. Ever since opting to study towards a Public Relations degree I’ve said I wanted to work in Crisis Management, thus sourcing a placement in a communications type environment as apposed to a creative industry placement.
I loved every minute working with the team, and although at times it was less than taxing, I do feel I’ve learnt an awful lot about public relations, what it takes to work in it, and where I now see my future.

My number one realisation would definitely be that I’ll be working my way up from the bottom upon graduation ….. the very, very bottom! At no point will I be taking a job where the primary task is media monitoring! Though I don’t mind doing it as a little, very little once in a while though hardly ever, part of the position. Don’t get me wrong, I read the newspapers like everyone else, and using Google Reader to search through tweets and forums was really interesting! But as far as a full time position goes, its not for me; I much prefer being proactive.

I’ve learnt that whatever position I end up in, writing is going to play a huge part in my job role. I like the challenge of making a press release interesting and it almost makes me lean towards journalism as a possibility for the future.

Out of everything I’ve done, I enjoyed the events and organisation side of things most; coming up with tag lines, campaign ideas, meeting with the media and seeing plans become reality gives me such a buzz! I like the idea of seeing something blossom from a tiny idea into a massive event.
My placement were good enough to let me ‘lead’, with a little supervision on budgets and such, on a city wide project during the time that I was there. The sense of accomplishment and pride you feel when people are talking about your ideas and getting excited about them is unreal.

Hopefully this year during University I’ll have the chance to work in more industry placements, time permitting!
I’d love to work in something super creative, fashion? Advertising? Photography? Those industries really interest me, and if I could find some PR work within them then I’d be made up.
Working within communications has certainly made me realise my future carer doesn’t lie in Crisis Management, I want to be creative, I want to spend hours hunched over mood boards, coming up with ideas, organising events, being involved in product launches, anything like that would be a dream.

All in all, organising this work placement was probably one of the best things I could have done for my career. I really know now what it is that I would like to do, and what I wouldn’t.
If anyone reading this is in the same position as me, planning a carer they know little about, or feeling as though they’re not sure what to do in the future, or even dead set on a particular route, I would advise you to take up some work experience. I only worked part time for 3 months, and its done me the world of good!

On top of all that, it makes your CV look really good, and you look just that little bit more employable than your peers whom haven’t sourced work experience. And for me, I got to wear chic office clothes and little high heels every day, I worked in a lovely office and made some good contacts, and friends. Its not like we’ve had a summer good enough to not be working – so I can’t think of much better to have done with the time!

Next summer I hope to be undertaking a placement somewhere in the fashion industry, I’ll let you all know how it goes!

In the meantime, I’ll talk soon

Melissa x

Hey everyone, today I’m doing a quick review of this V05 Give me Texture hair powder.

I’ve never used a hair powder before but I love the results! It works by you shaking a little bit of the product in between your layers and then ‘ruffling’ it up gently with your fingers.

Texture
The texture of the powder is really fine, at first I thought it would leave a grey coloured residue in my hair, like a lot of dry shampoo’s can do, but I was pleasantly surprised. I can’t see where I’ve put it in, even on my dark hair, and although you can feel it a little, it makes your hair a little stiff, you can’t see it. Its matte effect so it doesn’t make my hair shiny – which is a bonus!

Smell
It doesn’t really have a massive smell, its just the usual, sweet, typical ‘hair product’ smell. Its actually quite nice, and because its not overpowering, I wont worry about using it too much and ending up with a weird smell coming from my hair! Haha.

Value for Money
At the minute this product is reallygood value for money in Boots!  On its own its something like £4.00, however, Boots are running a  ’2 for £5′ promotion. So basically, buy one, and get another for a pound! Or any other v05 product; absolute bargain!

Drawbacks
The only drawback I can find is that the pot is so little I think I’ll use one a fortnight! I’m going to have to either stock up, or be a little more careful with it.
(I’m probably going to stock up; 2 for £5!)

Results
You can see the results here, I only used a tiny bit of the powder on my very top layer. I love the results, it gave my hair just a tiny bit more ‘oomph’. I’m sure when I’m going out I’ll use even more and it’ll go even bigger.
I absolutely love it! I’ll be using it every day.

So, all in all, this is a product that I instantly don’t think I could live without. For the results, I think its brilliant value for money and I’m pleased with every aspect of it! Its perfect for adding that little extra to my new short hairstyle, and I’m sure it’ll work on longer hair too – I’ll find that out in a few years time haha!

What products can’t you guys live without?

Melissa x

I thought I’d share with you this little purchase that has stolen my heart!!!!

I know they’re totally not girly, I wouldn’t have been seen dead in trainers usually – but they’re SO comfy! & waterproof, living in not-so-sunny Sheffield means you need emergency waterproof shoes!

I’d been thinking about getting some for ages, & I’m so glad I have. I just have to be careful to wear them with relatively girly clothes so I don’t look too butch with my new short hair cut!

What do you guys think? Would you give up stylish brogues & dolly shoes for waterproof comfort?

Talk soon,

Melissa x

I couldn’t be more pleased with this new chapter in the blog’s life, but I want to hear what you think too! Do you like it? Are you still going to keep reading?
As much as I loved the old ‘xoxxMelly’ it was only a temporary thing.

I appreciate the name is a touch obscure, but its a little homage to one of my favourite films, and one of my favourite beauty subjects – though don’t worry, we aren’t just going to be talking tanning.

So we’re out with the old and in with the new, I’m starting a new chapter in my life, and my little blog is too.

How about we keep the reviews, tutorials and inspiration? But add in a mix of more personal posts, and perhaps once in a while something more topical?

So there we have it, 500 Tales of Tanning is here to stay. You can expect the usual whimsical fashion and beauty posts, some personal instagram style photos and we’ll touch upon the topical.

Over the next fortnight or so I’ll be posting an Elure false lash review and a vintage inspired shorts rework, plus some little posts on what ever it is I happen to get up to.

Until then, talk soon
Melissa x