Sunday 31 March 2013
Thursday 28 March 2013
Sunday 24 March 2013
Friday 22 March 2013
Ways to Brighten up Your Look for Spring.
There are plenty of ways to brighten up your look for spring. The change of season usually means that more colour starts creeping into our wardrobes. This spring, you can get away with wearing your colourful looks in a variety of ways. From head-to-toe hues to subtle hints of colour, these are just a few ways to brighten up your look for spring.
Lately we’ve been seeing a lot of looks, on and off the runway, which feature head-to-toe colour. When it comes to ways to brighten up your look for spring, this is a hot trend to try. Something simple like a dress is an easy way to wear all one colour, but things like matching suits and separates are other ways you could work the trend.
Mixing pastel and neon colours might not be your first option for spring dressing, but it’s definitely one worth checking out. This look has been a favourite for designers and plenty of the new season collections feature pastel clothes with neon accents. Think of colours like peppermint with electric green or peach with bright orange. If you can’t find clothes that have the right combination of pastel and neon, try adding some neon accessories to a pastel outfit instead.
Amp up your outfit this spring with a fun, colourful print. While all things tribal-inspired were trending last year, this spring try colourful geometric or animal prints instead. Pick out separates in the same print and put together a cool matching printed outfit. If you’re feeling braver, try clashing your prints for maximum effect.
If you thought the fashion world’s obsession with colour blocking was over, think again. Instead of colour blocking by using different coloured pieces of clothing, find something with a colour blocked pattern instead. Relaxed shift dresses with bright colour blocked patterns are an on-trend option for spring and they also work well with the sport luxe trend that is so popular right now.
1. HEAD-TO-TOE HUES
2. MIXED PASTELS AND NEONS
or
3. IN PRINT
4. BOLD COLOUR BLOCKING
If you thought the fashion world’s obsession with colour blocking was over, think again. Instead of colour blocking by using different coloured pieces of clothing, find something with a colour blocked pattern instead. Relaxed shift dresses with bright colour blocked patterns are an on-trend option for spring and they also work well with the sport luxe trend that is so popular right now.
5. LITTLE COLOURFUL DRESSES
Ditch the little black dress this spring and switch to a little colourful dress instead. Red, orange, and yellow dresses are all fashionable options for right now. They are fun to wear and are guaranteed to turn heads! Dress them up at night with metallic or patent accessories, and team them with plenty of dazzling pieces of jewellery.
6. ALL WHITE
7. ACCESSORIES
Updating our outfits can be as simple as changing our accessories. When it comes to spring fashion., try adding colour to your outfits in the form of headscarves, bags, shoes, and sunglasses. A statement accessory in your favourite colour is all you need to add a splash of colour to a basic outfit.
8. MAKEUP
Makeup is another thing to consider if you’re looking at ways to brighten up your spring look. If you can’t commit to a colourful wardrobe overhaul, add colour in the form of lipstick, eyeshadow, or nail polish instead. For a modern and on-trend look this spring, you can’t beat a fuchsia lipstick in a matte finish.
When it comes to spring fashion this season, it seems that brighter is better! Embrace the season ahead by adding some colourful touches to your outfits. How do you plan on brightening up your look for spring?
Wednesday 13 March 2013
Best Exercises for Muffin Top
Exercises for muffin top are a really popular topic right now. After all, the holidays are over and the weather is getting warmer, so it’s definitely time to turn your attention to that tiny bubble of fat bulging just above the waistline of your favorite jeans — muffin top! It’s not out of control yet, but it will be if you don’t start doing the best exercises for Muffin Top… and it’s time to get going! Hop off the couch, put down the cookie, and get moving! Here are the 9 best exercises for muffin top.
This exercise for muffin top requires a special stand, one that allows you to bend forward at the waist while keeping your back legs straight. Bend completely at the waist, then slowly “fly” back up so your back is straight. Don’t over-extend, arching your back! Repeat 12 times, three sets. Doing this exercise regularly will get your abs in incredible shape, while at the same time eliminating any love handles .
Remember that incline bench from item #4? You’re going to use it again for this, one of the VERY best muffin top exercises. Sit on the bench, feet up, then slowly lower yourself back, but only half-way… then sit all the way up again. It’s a lot harder than it sounds. Do three sets of 12. If you do this exercise several times every week, you’ll start seeing a huge difference in no time.
We make two mistakes with the rowing machine: one, we don’t consider it one of the best exercises for muffin top, and two, we let our BACKS do the work, rather than our arms and core. Sit with your back straight during the ENTIRE rowing motion, or you’ll kill the effect, and you may even hurt your back.
The elliptical machine truly provides a whole-body workout, including one to combat muffin top. Do 30 good, heart-thumping minutes on the elliptical, and include a 5 minute warm up and an 8 minute cool down. Workout complete, muffin top banished! If you have trouble with longer workouts, especially when you’re first starting to exercise, just distract yourself. Listen to music, even watch TV, anything to make that half hour pass faster.
Toe-touches are pretty standard as well, and they’re not at all intensive, which means it’s much easier to do more. Start out with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees straight, hands on your hips. Twist and touch your right fingers to your left toes, then straighten, and touch your left fingers to your right toes. Complete three sets of 24 (12 each twist). Whew!
You’d be surprised how beneficial leg lifts are when you’re trying to banish that muffin top. You’ll also be surprised at how many you can do! Lie flat on your back with your arms at your sides. Lift both legs off the ground, keeping them straight, about 6 inches off the ground. Hold for 30 seconds (or as close to 30 seconds as you can!), then slowly lower them. Are your abs burning yet?
These were my 9 best exercises for removing that little bulge we all produced while eating in winter. If you have any exercises share them with me!
1. BACK FLY
2. TWIST CRUNCHES
Crunches are standard exercise, but that’s because they work, especially when it comes to strengthening your abdominal muscles and your core. Lie flat on your back, hands behind your head, knees bent. “Crunch” yourself up, twisting slightly so your left elbow touches your right knee, then lower yourself back to the ground. Crunch again, this time with your right elbow touching your left knee. Repeat so you do 24 crunches, 3 times3. BALANCE-BALL CRUNCHES
Balance balls are becoming much more popular, primarily because they can make a lot of exercises — like crunches — even more successful. To do this crunch, lie with a balance ball in the small of your back, with your feet apart, placed firmly on the ground. Do three sets of 12 crunches, and you’ll feel your core struggling to keep you on balance. Fantastic!4. INCLINE CRUNCHES
As you can see, there are several different kinds of crunches, all of which make great muffin top exercises. This type of crunch is less intensive but it still gives you a great workout. Sit on an incline crunch bench, with your toes at the “top.” Lie flat on your back, then slowly “crunch” up til you’re about half-way sitting. Slowly lower yourself back down. Don’t cheat and use your neck muscles, either! Do three sets of 12.5. REVERSE CRUNCHES
Remember that incline bench from item #4? You’re going to use it again for this, one of the VERY best muffin top exercises. Sit on the bench, feet up, then slowly lower yourself back, but only half-way… then sit all the way up again. It’s a lot harder than it sounds. Do three sets of 12. If you do this exercise several times every week, you’ll start seeing a huge difference in no time.
6. ROWING
7. ELLIPTICAL
8. TWIST TOE-TOUCHES
9. LEG RAISES
These were my 9 best exercises for removing that little bulge we all produced while eating in winter. If you have any exercises share them with me!
Tuesday 12 March 2013
Monday 11 March 2013
How To: Deal With Thick Hair
I have gorgeous thick, wavy hair… But there's always a flip side to the gorgeous things right? It's so hard to keep them in place and just take care of them! I have had all kinds of hassle trying to deal with thick hair. While my sister was rocking cute clips, I was struggling to find a hair elastic tough enough to handle my hair. If you’re suffering from an excess of tresses, read on. I’ve chatted up my stylists they've and both provided me with an insight into the secret world of thick hair. Here are tips on how to deal with thick hair.
1. BE PATIENT
Most people with thick hair also tend to have wavy hair, and wavy hair tends to frizz… which makes it even more unmanageable. Both my sister and my stylist agree: the best way to deal with thick hair is to be patient. Blow it all the way dry before you leave the house on a humid day… let it air dry for an hour or so, then tackle it with your dryer, wait ten minutes for your hair to cool, spray it with a light hold spray, and you’re ready to go. Anyone with thinner hair may wonder why this takes patience — but you girls with thick hair know it can take up to an hour to dry your hair all the way!
2. FIND THE RIGHT ACCESSORIES
Forget it — the cute little bows and clips and pins just are not going to work in your hair. They make lovely decorations, but there’s no way they’re going to be able to actually do the work of holding your hair up or back. They’re just too flimsy! Keep your eyes peeled for extra-hold clips and elastics. My stylist recommends the store Charming Charlie…. They apparently have all kinds of tough-enough accessories for your thick, unruly hair.
3. FIND THE RIGHT TOOLS
I swear that in my entire life, I've only ever been able to find one type of comb and one type of brush that can handle my hair. I've also invested in a high-powered hair dryer and I take it with me when I travel, because the right tools can make all the difference in how to handle thick hair. Try a boar bristle brush — they’re tough!8. USE THE RIGHT PRODUCT
Whatever you do, don’t use a volumizing shampoo and forget the mousse! Be sure you’re using the right product for your hair, like a clarifying shampoo and conditioner and a set of anti-frizz products. My stylist recommends Bumble and Bumble for anti-frizz.
9. BRAID IT!
There’s one big advantage to having thick hair: you can rock braids way better than girls with thin, limp hair. This is a great way to deal with thick hair when you just can’t make it behave. Gather all of your behind one ear and secure it with a strong elastic, then do a herringbone braid (be sure to remove the elastic when you’re done). Or tame all of your tresses in a classic French braid from top to bottom. Gorgeous!
10. DONATE IT!
I donated my much-thinner hair to Locks of Love once, and they got two ponytails out of it. It takes four ponytails to make a wig for a cancer-stricken child, so if you donated your super-thick hair, think of how many wigs they could make from your hair alone! Remember, if you have thick curly hair, you’ll want to check with your stylist before you cut it too short… but wow, this would be such a great way to deal with thick hair and do some good!
After years of dealing with thick hair, I am finally happy, using the right tools and products and accessories, and finally finding a stylist who knows how to use thinning shears and long layers. Now my sister is back to being jealous of my hair! If you have thick, unruly hair, I hope these tips help you, too… and maybe you’ll have more tips and ideas to share! Let me know down below…
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