5 Year Blogoversary £100 Voucher Giveaway!

It's been five years since I started rambling away about randomness here on Transatlantic Blonde. I've blogged on and off for years so when I started I never imagined I'd actually stick with it this long or that y'all would actually read it! I'm still continuously shocked that I have an audience outside of my friends and family who have to listen to me :)

To celebrate my blogoversary I think it makes the most sense to give a present not to myself but to my amazing readers--I wouldn't have accomplished all of this without your support! The traditional fifth anniversary gift is wood; no offence to trees but that's kinda boring. So instead I'm giving y'all the chance to choose your present! You could win your choice of £100 vouchers in my blogoversary giveaway!

If you read my blog you'll know I have a lot of different interests and cover a lot of different topics so I couldn't just choose one prize! All of the prize options give you a chance to win some of my favourite things! When you enter my 5th blogoversary giveaway you are entering for a chance to win your choice of:

£100 of Amazon vouchers or

£100 of ASOS vouchers or

£100 of SpaFinder vouchers or

£100 of Starbucks vouchers!

I dare you to tell me there isn't something there for everyone! What is there on Amazon you can't buy? I'm in love with all their American grocery items personally but then I also would love a mini shopping spree on ASOS or treat myself to some pampering with SpaFinder or feed my Frappuccino addiction with Starbucks. No matter what you choose I'll be jealous!

To enter leave a blog comment with which option you'd choose and what you'd buy with your vouchers and follow the instuctions on Rafflecopter. Competition ends Friday, July 19th (see widget for hours remaining). See Rafflecopter widget for full Terms and Conditions. OPEN WORLDWIDE! Vouchers will be issued to equivalent of £100 if you live outside of the UK.

Thank you to the friendly folks at Appliances Online for donating the prize! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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What I Wore Wednesday: Mar Menor, Spain

I really wish Glasgow knew what summer actually means. It is currently 55 degrees and raining--I'm sorry but that is not how summer is defined in my dictionary. Luckily while we were on holiday by Mar Menor, Spain we actually got to experience summer. I'm talking temperatures in the 80s/90s, swimming outside, blue skies and SUNSHINE!!!

We rented a villa with NotBlondeHusband's sister, mom and her husband; we had our very own pool and hot tub. We ate breakfast outside on the patio and swam every day and generally only went inside to sleep. It was absolutely perfect and over way too fast.

Blondie Boy LOVED the pool. We had to enforce a sort of backwards adult swim where he was allowed 15 minutes in and 45 minutes out only because we were worried he'd still burn even with super high SPF on. He is a total pool rat and we're going to look into getting him swim lessons again now we are home.

Perfecting the lift from Dirty Dancing

We were only 10 minutes from the beach at Mar Menor (a salt water lagoon separated from the ocean by a large inhabited sandbar) and 25 minutes from the ocean side of La Manga (the aforementioned big ass sandbar) but we only ventured there twice. We drove down La Manga one evening and Blondie Boy had such a great time playing in the sand along the ocean that we went to the Mar Menor beach the next morning to build more sand creatures and collect shells. If you're going to this part of Spain the water in Mar Menor is really warm and really shallow so is pretty ideal for small children!

I pretty much was in my swimsuit all day and then changed into a sleeveless top and shorts or a sun dress at night. It so rarely gets warm enough for shorts in Glasgow I had to buy some before we left! I've put them away for the next time I'll need them but I'm not holding my breath!

I have about a gazillion pictures of Blondie Boy swimming or playing with his new cars (visiting Spanish Toys R Us was on his to do list) but I won't bore you all with them. I'm so glad we were able to get away and I would totally go back again. At first I was worried we didn't really do anything super cultural but then I realised growing up our vacations were about going to the beach and getting good weather and honestly there is nothing wrong with that. If you think of Spain as our Florida (Midwest Americans go to Florida, Scottish people go to Spain), lazing by the pool all day doesn't sound so bad. To be honest does lazing by the pool ever sound bad?

We did go into Cartagena, a former Roman strong hold, for the afternoon and walked around the cobbled streets and even found our way into Sephora (why are is Sephora on the continent and not in the UK?!? Why is their iced tea on the continent and not in the UK? Why are churros so freaking tasty?!?!) and had drinks on the harbour. It was super windy but we managed to snap one picture on the promenade and then another when we got home.

High Low Skull top-HM

Dark Wash Denim Shorts-Forever 21

Flip Flops-Old Navy

We all know I have a minor major obsession with skulls so when I saw this shirt at H&M I had to buy it. Forever 21 only opened in Glasgow a month or so ago and honestly I wasn't sure if it was my type of place but since they had shorts that fit me it TOTALLY is! I've learned over time not to try and buy pants/trousers that aren't made in America. I know that sounds odd but my American ass is not made for British jeans what can I say! Do you have issues finding pants/trousers that fit right?

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What I Wore Wednesday: BritMums Live

On Friday morning at 4am UK time we left Spain and then I flew straight to Ayrshire and then drove up to Glasgow to fly to London for BritMums Live! I was exhausted to say the least but I had an amazing time. Since I was travelling all day and schlepping from Gatwick into town I arrived in what I flew in (jeans and a tee). The lovely people at TK Maxx offered to dress all of us Best Style blog finalists so I changed before the BiBs in the evening; super sweet Chelsea from Ms. Mummy of Two let fellow finalist Liz from Baby Wears Prada and I get all dolled up in her room before the awards started.

Liz and I

Photo stolen from the lovely HonestMum
Jacqui, Mirka, Jen, Uju & I

Metallic Dress- TK Maxx

Ankle Boots-New Look

Kitty Ears- Accessorize

I'm a huge fan of the current summer trend for metallics so I grabbed this metallic dress the second I saw it at TK Maxx. I know you're thinking---umm WTF is with the cat ears? Well when Liz won the Best Fashion award at The Mads last year she had some super cute kitty cat ears so we decided to rock them again for the BiBs. If you can't wear cat ears to an awards ceremony when can you? You can't tell but the top half of the dress was see-through at the back something I didn't think I'd be comfortable with but am glad I faced my fear!

The next day I was speaking during one of the sessions and again was lucky enough to have an outfit sent to me by the fab team at Secret Sales. I knew I wanted to be comfortable since I was speaking and since I'd be on my feet all day and I absolutely LOVE the look that they helped me come up with for the day.

Ripped Effect Studded Skull Interdee tee- Secret Sales

Leopard Tank Top- Zara

The Flirt Skinny Jean- Old Navy

Leopard Heels- Dune via TK Maxx

Braided Bead Bracelet-Bijou Brigitte 

OMG I love this top SO much. I didn't realize it had tiny silver skulls on it until it arrived and I literally squealed outloud when I opened the package! Secret Sales originally sent me a maxi skirt to wear with it but I felt it made the look a bit to blah so I changed it up with skinny jeans and leopard heels. While we were in Spain I got a leopard tank to wear underneath and peek through the rips and this awesome bracelet. I love that neon is on trend again and I feel like these beads, braided is a funky twist and a pop of colour. I felt super comfortable and confidant all day and love how it all came together.

I'm so grateful for Sodastream sponsoring me to attend and TK Maxx and Secret Sales helping be look stylish while there! I never would have worn a sheer backed dress or a ripped top before but I'm so glad I did. Are there any styles you've been reluctant to try but then loved?



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What I Wore Wednesday: Rainbow Room International

I've made no secret that I've been hating my hair lately. For ages all I wanted was really long hair and then once I got it I felt like I couldn't do anything with it. I was super impressed I didn't pull my hair back once at work yet the whole time I really wished I'd thrown a hair tie in my purse. Every time I walked past the bathroom mirror it just didn't look right and I wasn't loving it at all.
So I found it quite serendipitous when I got the chance to try out the services at Rainbow Room International at Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow. Rainbow Room was founded in 1979 and is an award winning salon synonymous with quality, luxury and innovation. There are 9 salons, 2 beauty and spa salons as well as the prestigious academy. I'd heard great things about Rainbow Room but had never been myself.

When I met with David, the salon manager, I let him know I felt like my hair was too long and just hung there and that my unintentional ombre (more commonly known as massive grown out roots) was making me feel a bit blah and I was open to suggestions. We talked about my face shape (heart) and how angles would help flatter it and how to brighten my hair up with a mix of highlights and cooler low lights as my natural colour is quite warm.
I also learned that a lot of shampoos have silicone in them that cause build up that not only coats your hair but can block up your hair follicle and weaken your hair; it can even make two weak strands grow instead of one strong strand which is why you can have shorter standing up bits of frizzy hair! David scraped my hair to show me the silicone build up and I couldn't believe it. There are certain shampoos I won't be touching now!   I got started with an amazing Shiatsu head massage (lovely after all that flight drama) and then had my hair cut first before colour. David cut my hair first because then he could apply my highlights to flatter and accentuate the new cut. Then five different colours were applied to my head with foils and afterwards David painted on colour outside of the foil where it would process differently.

David talked me through the best way to blow dry my hair (don't part it and don't tip your head upside down ::coughMOMcough::) and what sort of products to use as well. Rainbow Room have their own product line formulated especially for Scottish water including a light weight leave in conditioner that can be used to style as well. When I first sat down I'd told David I wanted to know what he thought about my hair and what he thought I should do since he has been with the salon over 20 years with experience in London and Amsterdam before that and he did not let me down!

Pink and Grey Top- Gap

Sweetheard Jeans, Old Navy

Blue Flip Flops, Old Navy

I LOVE my hair! At first I thought maybe the colour was a bit dark but I think my eyes were playing tricks on me. My hair looks so much healthier and has so much body and fullness. There is an actual shape to my hair now instead of just two flat curtains. I'm so happy I was able to go to the Rainbow Room and experience their friendly and talented staff first hand. I would whole heartedly recommend them to anyone and can't wait to see their new styling videos they are producing shortly. David had offered to show my different ways to curl and style it but as I had to pick up Blondie Boy from school I didn't have time.

Rainbow Room International haircuts and colour vary in price by the level of stylist but you can also get stand-by appointments or appointments with students in their training academy.

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Transatlantic Blonde was provided a cut and colour free of charge for the purpose of this review but all opinions are my own. I am ridonkulously picky about my hair and if I didn't like it you would know--I only speak the truth!

What I Wore Wednesday: Impromptu Date Night

So originally my What I Wore Wednesday post today was just going to be another work bathroom selfie; to be fair there was an epic story of how it was the fourth dress I tried on before work this morning (the three I laid out just didn't work), how it was far too cold for bare legs and then how I got rained on but you don't have to deal with that boring bullshit excuse for a post because this inadvertently turned into an impromptu date night What I Wore Wednesday!

I went into work today after all the above and it was a fairly average day; I was getting things prepared before we went away tomorrow on holiday (to be fair I didn't really have to handover anything since I just started) and then at 2:45 and then I get this text message from NotBlondeHusband:

Edited for those who don't swear like a sailor 

 Apparently the French Air Traffic Controllers are striking today, tomorrow and Thursday and all flights in/out of France as well as any flights flying OVER French air space are cancelled. {Insert favourite expletive here} Then there was a flurry of texts back and forth about what we could do and the fact that I'm off to Brit Mums Live so I have to be back by the 21st and more texts back and forth while NBH called the caretaker for the villa we were staying in and my MIL's husband phoned about the rental cars and I tried not to cry at my desk.

While I was trying not to become the girl who cries at her desk on her 6th day at work NBH managed to get us flights on Friday to Alicante (about 45 minutes from where we were staying) and the caretaker thought she might have been mistaken about the villa being fully booked and was going to get back to us. Long story short we are now leaving on Friday and getting back on the following Friday--so our holiday is slightly delayed and I'll now be arriving into Glasgow only to go home, change suitcases and fly back out but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

So since we'd had all this stress and craziness and we didn't need to pack tonight and Blondie Boy wouldn't be home until after 8pm from a trip to his GG's we decided to have an impromptu date night! The Butchershop Bar and Grill (if you are in Glasgow GO!) has a deal on Tuesday's where you get two steaks, two fries and a bottle of wine for just £30 so we took advantage of the good timing and no small person and enjoyed a spontaneous dinner out which doesn't really happen much with a three year old!

While I say it is an impromptu date night what I wore, it is still what I wore to the office--I didn't change my clothes so minus the flight drama inbetween it's the same post it would have been---I kinda lied about it not being boring bullshit--whoops!

Black Dress with White Polka Dots, Gap

Black Tank, Marks and Spencers

Cropped Blazer, HM

Black Studded Ballet Pumps, New Look

I got the studded ballet pumps because I needed new work flats and New Look shoes are insanely comfortable and affordable; win win! I also went a little more loud with the statement manicure this week and the one pink glitter nail. I'm definitely totally in love with ring finger manicures but I'm not sure if I'm sold on the pink on pink action or not. What do you think? I'm hopefully going to try and squeeze in a gel manicure before we leave--what colours should I get?

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