Summer Reading

Laura Elizabeth Jones / / Lifestyle

Summer Reading

This summer get your teeth into one of our four favorite summer reads, with witty anecdotes that will have you in fits of laughter, to emotional turmoil that will have you crying along with the characters, you are bound to be addicted with in minutes.

 

‘Belle de Jour: Playing The Game’ is the third in a series of books following the life of a London call girl. Belle’s explicit, funny, articulate and eye-popping style of writing has captivated audiences all over the world. And if you have yet to start reading, then hurry up

and get to it!

Throughout the book Belle de Jour is frank, refreshingly honest, and bursting with both advice and anecdotes. It is the perfect holiday accessory every girl is after, with reflections in her inimitable tones, this is a novel filled with indecent wit and more than a little lust to entertain you by the pool.

 

‘Can you keep s Secret?’ by the award winning author Sophie Kinsella, is a one off chick lit novel that follows the story of  the ditzy Emma Corrigan. A working woman whose life is filled with many insignificant, amusing and cringe worthy secrets.

Kinsella’s sharp, witty and hilarious manner shines incandescen

tly throughout the book. This light-hearted romance novel is addictive, engaging, laugh out loud funny and easy to read, the ideal kind of book to take on holiday and read on the beach.

 

‘Lipstick jungle’ is another hit book by the talented author Candace Bushnell, the writer of the hit TV series ‘Sex and The City

’. Filled with witty anecdotes, sex and fall outs the book follows the lives of three successful working women in their every day endeavours.

Bushnell describes her new heroines Victory Ford, Nico O’Neily and Wendy Healy as ‘fierce, funny and flawed’, and as she follows them through the minefield of work, love and life on top. Sun, sea and ‘Lipstick Jungle’, it’s the perfect holiday combination for every girl.

 

From the writer of ‘PS, I Love You’ and ‘Where Rainbows End’ comes the magical novel ‘A Place Called Here’ by the award winning novelist Cecilia Ahern. This exceptional novel shares with us the life of Sandy Shortt, her bereavement, friendships and lost love, is both heartbreaking and uplifting.

A book that will make you both wonder and imagine, an enchanted tale about keeping, letting go and losing in life, but also about remembering one’s roots and love. Yet another phenomenal novel from Cecelia Ahern, whose writing seems able mirror a deep and convincing examination of life’s biggest and unanswered questions. It’s a contemporary fairytale that will make your heart race; this book is every girl’s best friend this summer.

Spring in to style

Diane Peters / / Health and Beauty

The sun is finally out and what better to celebrate a new season than with a new hairstyle?

When it comes to summer styles, simplicity is a must this season, Soft loose hair with a relaxed texture is dead on trend and is oh so simple to achieve.

Billie Jones, a Toni and Guy stylist reveals his favourite effortless styles to transform your locks from drab to fab in just a few simple steps.

Pretty plaits:

So simple you can do it with your eyes closed …practically.

plaited hairstyle

1. Scoop all your hair into low pony tail, but instead of securing it with a hair band bring it to one side of your face.

2. Release the hair and begin to loosely plait it.

3. Secure with a hair band.

4. It doesn’t matter if it looks messy, that’s how it is supposed to look.

Beautiful Braids

 

 

braided hairstyle

 

1.Tilt your head to one side, and brush all the hair back from the ear that you will be starting on.   

2.Comb all the hair that you will be using in your braid forward towards your face.                

3.Use your fingers to section the first strands right at the base of the front of your ear and braid tightly.

4.Continue to add hair to your braid as you begin your French braid across the front of your head.

5.When you reach your other ear, finish the braid off with a hair band.

6.Using hair grips clip the braid behind your ear and allow the rest of your hair to fall naturally over it to keep it hidden.

The messy bun

messy bun hairstyle

 

1.Brush your hair back into either a high or low pony tail depending on how you want your bun.

2..Secure with a hair band.

3.Lift pony tail up and wrap around the base of the pony tail.

4.Secure with an additional hair band.

5.If desired pin loose strands to your head using hair grips.

Beach waves

beach wave hairstyle

 

1.Spray a good texturising spray such as Toni and Guy beach curl spray, £6.12 from boots on to dry hair.

2.Scrunch sections of your hair, hold for  ten seconds then release to reveal effortlessly sexy beach waves.

Summer Playlists!

Emily Bond / / Lifestyle

Summer has well and truly arrived, and whether we have beautiful sunshine or the traditional English drizzle, one thing is for sure; People love their summertime music.
   Listening to happy music in the summer time will enhance your happy sun shiney mood and will also help you to link your memories with certain songs when you hear them in the future.
Poise has inteviewed five girls from across the country to see what their top ten summer songs are. Read on and build your own summer playlists for 2011.

Jazmine Cainey

18, Atworth, Wiltshire

  1. Mr Brightside – The Killers
  2. Here In Your Arms – Hello Goodbye
  3. Dancing In The Moonlight – Toploader
  4. Sit Down – James
  5. Dancing Queen – ABBA
  6. Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars
  7. E.T. – Katy Perry
  8. Dog Days (Are Over) – Florence and the Machine
  9. Fascination – Alphabeat
  10. She Will Be Loved – Maroon 5

 

Jenny Newton

20, Howden, East Yorkshire

  1. Take Back The City – Snow Patrol
  2. Darude – Sandstorm
  3. Club Tropicana – Wham
  4. Alright – Supergrass
  5. All Summer Long – Kid Rock
  6. Good Vibrations – Kaiser Chiefs
  7. I Predict A Riot – Beach Boys
  8. 1 2 3 4 – Feist
  9. We Come One – Faithless
  10. Back To Basics – Shapeshifters

 

Eleanor Clifton

16, Melksham, Wiltshire

Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae

  1. Nolita Fairytale – Vanessa Carlton
  2. Oh, It Is Love – Hello Goodbye
  3. Be Ok – Ingrid Michaelson
  4. Superman – Joe Brooks
  5. Walking On Sunshine – Katrina And The Waves
  6. Neopolitan Dreams – Lisa Mitchell
  7. Happy – Nevershoutnever!
  8. People Should Smile More – Newton Faulkner
  9. Its Only You Part 2 – Salem

 

Rosie Browne

20, Southampton, Hampshire

  1. Day We Caught The Train – Ocean Colour Scene
  2. Two Princes – Spin Doctors
  3. She Moves In Her Own Way – The Kooks
  4. You and Me Song -The Wannadies
  5. Summertime – Dj Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince
  6. Let Your Yeah Be Yeah -The Pioneers
  7. Sweetness – Jimmy Eat World
  8. Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley
  9. Golden Brown – The Stranglers
  10. Town Called Malice -The Jam

 

 

Emma Fryer

20, Farndon, Nottinghamshire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Last Summer- Lost Prophets
  2. Sugar, We’re Going Down – Fall Out Boy
  3. What’s My Age Again – Blink 182
  4. Kiss Me – New Found Glory
  5. Blowing In The Wind – Bob Dylan
  6. Thunder – Boys Like Girls
  7. Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams
  8. Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
  9. Perfect Day – Lou Reed
  10. 99 Red Balloons – Nena (covered by Gold finger)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 Deadly sins of your summer holiday!

Emily Bond / / Lifestyle

Wrath – Bar Fighting

A study carried out by the European Institute of Studies on Prevention has shown that the British are the worst nation foe fighting on holiday. We have all gotten angry when someone pushes us at a nightclub, but what is it about being on holiday that makes people’s tempers so short?

Professor Kate Dodge who teaches Psychology and Human Behaviour at  Bangor University says “People let go of their inhibitions on holiday and drink more alcohol than they usually would. This causes all emotions to be heightened, including anger and annoyance.”

The study also found out that arrests on British women abroad for drunken brawling are 15 per cent higher than 2009.

Envy – Bikini Envy

Don’t sit by the pool bitterly looking at all the girls who you think look better than you in their swimming costumes.

Not only will this make you feel inferior and self conscious, it won’t change how you look.

Remember, there is always someone who looks worse than you. But if you feel the need to shape up for your holiday, see our bikini diets.

 

Sloth – Lazing on Sun beds

Every girl on holiday wants to look like a sun kissed goddess, so spending your holiday lazing around on a sun bed might seem like heaven. But you never know what local culture or fun you might be missing in the new place you are visiting.

It is also important to remember, if you are going to spend a lot of time in the sun to use sunscreen. The Dermatology Association recommends adults use no less that SPF 15 and Children should use at least  SPF50 in any country where the sun is strong.

Gluttony – Excess consumption on holiday

Everybody over eats on their holidays. With all inclusive deals or foreign food to tempt you, it’s not surprising. However this can result in sickness or indigestion, and nobody wants a dodgy stomach abroad.

It is not just food we over-indulge on abroad either. Britons are the worst country for binge drinking abroad. This can be dangerous and costly, especially if you were to be injured because of a drunken accident abroad. Without the right insurance your holiday could be a lot more costly then it should be.

Lust – Safe sex on Holiday

It is important to practice safe sex on holiday, because even if the hunky waiter will stay in the country, an STI or unwanted pregnancy won’t. This happened to Kelly C* who only found out she had caught Chlamydia whilst on holiday after being tested when she came back to England. She said “I was so drunk, the thought of protection barely crossed my mind. I felt so lucky when I got my test results back. It could be cleared up with antibiotics, and I didn’t end up with a baby, or like HIV.” Condoms are the only form of protection that will stop you from catching STI’s as well as preventing pregnancies.

Pride – Taking Britain Abroad

A survey carried out by holiday company Airtours described Brits abroad as “Patriotic to the point of fanaticism.” It also found out that 1% of Britons even take their teabags with them!

When you’re abroad, don’t be afraid to try out the local cuisine, instead of eating fish and chips or a fry up. Make an effort to go to the local bars, instead of heading for the one with all the English flags outside of it. You might find something you prefer!

Greed – Spending too much money on holiday

Going on holiday is expensive. To save yourself money on holiday, plan your activities before you go. This means you can budget, and save in advance.

It is sensible to take extra money in case of emergencies, but don’t be tempted to spend it whilst you are away. If you still; have it when your holiday is over, then you can buy something nice at duty free, or put it towards your next holiday!

Summer Romances

Emily Bond / / Love and Romance

Maybe it’s the heat, or too many cocktails, but there is something very unique about summer romances.

It might be the urgency that makes summer love so passionate, because whether you are staying for a week or a month you always have to say goodbye.

But is right to try and make a lasting thing out of a summer fling?

Long distance relationships are hard work, so it is important to be sure that your fling is really worth it and also that you both feel  the same.

Remember people are different stress free versions of themselves on holiday, so the person you meet may not be the exact person they are. This happened to Mischa O’Donnell, 23 from Cambridge, when she met a guy, Chris * on holiday.

“I met Chris on the beach in Spain last summer. He paid for my ice- cream because I had forgotten my purse. We spent the afternoon talking and really hit it off. From that day till the end of our holiday we were inseparable, and we decided to stay together. However when we both got back to Britain, the distance and stresses of our daily life started to interfere, and the relationship wasn’t strong enough to deal with it. We fizzled out, but I would definitely have another holiday romance. It made my trip much more memorable, and you never know what might happen.”

Not all summer romances have to end at the end of the holiday though.

If you both truly care for each other and are willing to work to put the effort in, then it can work out.

Rebeca Taylor, 25 from Bristol and her fiancé Matthew have been together for 3 years. She said “me and Matt met in a hotel in Crete. We shared a wonderful week together and at the end of it, neither of us was ready to leave it. It was hard for us to begin with, we lived quite far away. However on our 2 year anniversary Matt gave me 2 boxes. In one was a beautiful engagement ring in it and in the other was a key to an apartment in Bristol where I live, for both of us. It was the most romantic thing ever. I am so glad I gave my holiday fling a chance.”

So how do you keep the romance once the tan starts to fade?

Rebeca’s top tip is to communicate. “It is important to get to know the “real” person and not just the holiday one. Visit each other in your respective home towns; meet each others friends and family, see how you fit around each others lives.”

It is important to have a balance in any relationship, especially a long distance one and both of you should do equal amounts of travelling, calling etc.

If it doesn’t work out when you get back to real life, then don’t waste time being overly upset. Enjoy the memories of your holiday and concentrate on your home life for a while. Besides, there is always next year!