REVIEW: MARC JACOBS HONEY

Honey is the new addition the Marc Jacobs fragrance collection; it’s essentially a sweet fragrance, quite floral and fruity, with a hint of honey and vanilla. It’s lovely to wear on the daytime and because of its light scent, it’s perfect for Summer! The bottle is truly stunning with white polka dots all over, pearls and bee stripes; it is definitely one for the dressing table and it’s earned a special place on mine amongst my favourite fragrances!

The exciting part is that, to celebrate the launch of Honey, Marc Jacobs wants you to be a part of the buzz. They will be running a competition on Instagram, giving you the chance to win Marc Jacobs fashion and fragrance prizes by taking a photo of your favourite Honey Spots in London and uploading it to Instagram. This can be anywhere you like in London; I can’t wait to see what are your favourite spots in London.  Here’s how to enter:

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Take a picture of your #MJHONEYSPOT on Instagram

2. Tag photo with #MJHONEYSPOTS and name the location of the spot

3. Post picture and you’re automatically entered

Honey is a sunny delicious floral – happy and energetic, with a touch of the unexpected. Meet Marc Jacobs new Honey and discover #MJHONEYSPOTS at www.marcjacobsfragrances.com

My Diet Will Start Tomorrow

So I thought I would mix up the posts today by talking about my diet. Firstly,  I am the biggest offender of the classic "My diet will start tomorrow" complex, so I am determined to break that habit. I will start off by going over my current diet, what a regular week is for me and my new goals and aspirations. Hopefully this can give you some inspiration or extra motivation so that you too can be thin for Sumer and if you like it, you can try it out.  Stick around till the end because I have some exciting announcements for you!

A normal week: 

I am gluten intolerant so that is a huge factor in my diet. I can have a certain amount of gluten in my diet but if I have too much, my body reacts badly, so a lot of the time you just have to guess! So this means that I can not eat pasta and cakes and cookies etc, otherwise known as 'The fun food'. My general rule of thumb is to not eat these foods at home, on a regular basis, so that when it is a party or I am out with friends, I can indulge. It is also important to note that I LOVE Pepsi. I have about 2 glasses a day, which I know is not good and I have actively tried to cut down. I originally thought I was addicted so I planned to go two weeks without it to break the addiction, but after a week I was going really strong, so strong and not even craving it that I decided that I was not actually addicted, I just really love Pepsi. But this was helpful for me to create a good diet plan I can stick with.

This week:

This week, has been probably the worest week I have had in a long time, diet wise. As of next week, i will have complete control over my diet because of some exciting news that will reveal in a minute. So that I decided that this week i would just throw all diet plans out the window and just love life and eat whatever my little heart desires. So far that has consisted of sushi 3 times, 2 pizzas, a jar of Nutella and two packets of chocolate biscuits.

The New Plan: 

So from my extensive research from above, that my biggest diet issue is that I have no control over what is in my kitchen because I live at home and I hate going up to the shop that I would rather eat something that will make have a gluten reaction. For example Mum will have at least 3/4 oven pizzas, so I would rather eat that then going up the shop. But the exciting news is that I am starting a new job and moving out so that I am completely in control of what is in the house. I am very excited. So I created a few rules for myself to stick to.

The Rules: 

• Carbs are only once a day at dinner time
• Since I will be on the road in my new job, I should have fruit for lunch
• Eat gluten free as much as possible
• I can only have Pepsi or Coke on weekends and it wont be in the house to tempt me during the week. 
• I get to pick one 'naughty' food that I can have on the weekend. I get all week to decide which one I want for that weekend. I think its important to indulge. 

I feel like this should be relatively easy to stick to because I am a pretty healthy person normally anyway, although I am saying that with a mouth full of Nutella, so who knows! I also just want state that I am not necessary looking to loose weight, I don't have a weight problem, I am just trying to be as healthy as possible. However, I may need to loose a little bit of weight after this week! For the sake of measurable objectives, I will state that I am a size 6-8 (0-2 US sizes)   

I'll just leave this here for some extra motivation

Life updates and things to come! 

I also came up with a exercise plan to accompany this new diet plan. Which I will do a blog post and perhaps a video demonstrating how to do them because I always struggle to understand exercise instructions when they are written. 

Also, I have planned heaps of youtube videos I will now will be able to film because I will just be living with Daniel. At the moment, I live in a house with 3 other people and I don't like filming when other people are around and I don't have professional lighting. So I have to wait till the sun is out, no one is home and it isn't a day I need to wash my hair. As you can see, these don't come about too often. But on a positive note, I have convinced Daniel to film the boyfriend tag, which will be exciting, along with many other videos. I was thinking of starting a weekly video that is more ' The girl behind the blog' something like 'Fun Fridays" or "Get to know me Fridays" or something. If you have any suggestions do let me know. I wont be posting every youtube video I do on here, so if you don't want to miss anything, make sure to subscribe to that channel.

That should be it for today, sorry i know this was a long blog post, but I just had so much I had to share! Exciting things are happening and I excited to share them with you!

Blonde and Blonder: 10 Things to consider before dying your hair

Getting the perfect blonde hue can be a bit of a struggle. No matter how many photos of Carrie Underwood you flash before your stylist, there's always a 50/50 chance your hair will come out looking brassy, bleached, bright yellow, or just plain fake.

10 WHAT IS YOUR BLONDE BUDGET?

Going blonde requires maintenance. If you are going to do it, make sure you can afford the upkeep every four to 12 weeks, depending on the desired blondness and your existing natural color.

9 BE AWARE OF YOUR NATURAL LEVEL OF COLOR

Imagine hair color range to be from one to 12, one being the darkest level of black and twelve the lightest blonde. It may be a long time before you see your natural hair color again or even remember it. It is rare that anyone over the age of 16 actually has a natural level lighter than a seven.

8 BE READY TO UPGRADE AND CHANGE YOUR SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER ROUTINE

Typically, going blonde requires higher levels of ammonia or bleaching products. You will notice a texture change in your hair that most likely will require less shampooing and more conditioning. I recommend finding a gentler sulfate free shampoo and a reconstructive treatment mask.

7 FIND A BLONDE COLOR SPECIALIST

Be on the lookout for someone whose color you admire. Approach them and inquire "Who does your color?" Don't be afraid to ask someone that same question whose color you think is hideous, so you know where not to go. If your colorist pulls out a crochet hook and a plastic cap, reschedule with someone else.

6 KNOW HOW BLONDE YOU WANT TO GO

There are many different shades of blonde to choose from. Be aware of cool and warm shades and which one compliments your skin best. Bring pictures of blondes you like (and even you don't like) to your colorist. Make sure they are realistic and not in black or white. Keep in mind, blondes will look different depending on the surrounding light.

5 BE READY FOR A MAKEUP CHANGE

Your hair color is the frame for your face. Going blonde will directly affect your current shade of lipstick, which most likely will need to change. Visit a near by make up counter directly after your blonde session and get some make up tips from someone who has never seen you before.

4 KNOW IF YOU NEED HIGHLIGHTS, A SINGLE PROCESS OR BOTH

If you are a level seven or above, you most likely can become a blonde with highlights only. Any darker and you may require a single process, even a base breaker (which is bumping up your natural color slightly one level) or both if you are a level five or lower. You will need to learn this lingo to ensure your future blonde appointments are scheduled with the appropriate time needed.

3 ASK FOR A GLAZE

After going blonde, a glaze is a non peroxide treatment with sheer shade options that help achieve that perfect blonde tone and seal in an extra four to six weeks of shine.

2 BE READY NOT TO BE TAKEN AS SERIOUSLY

Blondes are stereotyped as intellectually handicapped. Be prepared to hear some stupid blonde jokes from some idiots. But remember, sometimes it can be smart to be perceived as dumb, they don't see you coming

1 KNOW THE REASON YOU ARE GOING BLONDE

Is it because you heard blondes have more fun and you're bored. Either way, have fun with it! Hair color is the easiest thing you can do to dramatically change your appearance without going under the knife.

Blonde and Blonder: Picking the right shade

Sorry about the delay in posts for the last few weeks, I have had a lot going on that I will soon be able to tell you about, don't worry, it's all good things! 

On to todays post. With it being the middle of summer for those of you north of the equator and the tale end of winter for us south of the boarder, the biggest hair trend that is happening right now is blonde, blonde highlights and blonde tips (otherwise known as ombre). Because of this, I decided to do a new blogging series called 'blonde and blonder' going over all the different aspects of being blonde, what to consider and how to care for it etc. To kick start this series, I should focus on picking the right shade.

First thing you need to consider is your skin-tone.

According to Ludovic Audesson, senior colorist at in New York City, choosing the right blonde tone goes hand-in-hand with your skin-tone. Here are his recommendations:

Blonde hair color for light skin-tonesOpt for a golden, strawberry or light blonde. Warming up your hair with highlights can add some color and interest to your locks and your face. But because you are fairer skinned, stay away from shades that are white, ash and reddish.

Blonde hair color for medium skintonesBecause your skin has more color to it, you can add more color to your hair. A golden hue is beautiful, as is a beige-blonde or even a light blonde. Just be sure to maintain some warmer tones to match your skin. Ashy or orange-based tones will make you look washed out.

Blonde hair color for dark skintonesStick with darker blonde shades on your hair. Remember, you don’t want to move more than two shades from your natural hair color, so if you have dark skin, chances are your hair is naturally darker too. Caramel or golden highlights can be beautiful. You should avoid tones with too much white, platinum or orange because these will look unnatural with your darker skin-tone.

Next, consider your natural hair colour. 

On a scale of one to 10 with one being the darkest possible hair colour and 10 being the palest, if you’re born a natural blonde, you are a level six (dark blonde) to a level 10 (platinum blonde). If you want to change your hair color or add highlights, stick with this basic rule of thumb: Don’t go more than two levels—or shades, above or below your natural color.
Jon Furniss/WireImageReese Witherspoon

For example, a level six can go darker or lighter—to a four or an eight—because this is the most versatile shade. Levels seven to eight have the perfect scenario to add highlights or lowlights and become more of a golden, strawberry or pale blonde. If you’re a nine to 10, meaning a very light blonde, you shouldn’t use an all-over color because you don’t want to contrast your natural tones with anything too dark. If you choose to do anything, add lowlights for dimension and contrast.

Celebrities with blonde hair

When choosing the perfect blonde shade for your skintone, take your inspiration from the celebrities who do it right. Sharon Stone and Reese Witherspoon are both examples of women with fair skin who look amazing with their lighter locks. Jennifer Aniston is someone with medium skintones who pulls off her “bronde” (blonde-brunette) hue perfectly, and while Kim Kardashian has a darker skintone, her caramel highlights add a lot of depth to her long mane.
 

“Hair color is a mixture of colors,” said Van Gogh. “The darker the blonde to begin with, the more a dye will look toned down. But the lighter or whiter the blonde, the more vibrant the dye will become, so you have to be careful when choosing a shade.”

Another thing to consider when going blonde is your lifestyle, according to Ludovic. “Do you live somewhere warm where the sun is going to affect your hair color? Will you be going in the ocean or pool a lot while maintaining your color?” Those are factors that can change the tone of your hair to a less desirable shade that may no longer work with your skin.

“Being blonde can take 20 years off you and soften your face,” added Ludovic. “Consistent with the cliché, the risk is that sometimes blondes are not taken seriously, but if you pay careful attention to getting the right shade and tone, it can be powerful.”

Blonde hair can be great for summer, but make sure you get it done professionally because I do not what to be responsible when you burn all your hair off with bleach! But, as a former blonde myself, I have it on good authority that blondes do in fact have more fun so go blonde and have a great summer!!

Everything you need to know about Lip Plumper's

Recently I have been spending too much time on the Victorias Secret website and been staring a little too long at Candice's lips, so I decided that I would attempt to enhance mine to look more like hers with the use of lip plumper's. Before I make my purchase, I wanted to do my research and this is what i have found.

Since the beginning of time, women have yearned for voluptuous lips. Egyptian women used henna to colour theirs an alluring red; femme fatales in the Middle Ages used honey to enhance their kissers. Today, thanks to Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson, and the best lip plumpers, lips are once again the hottest thing. Now along with artificially puffing up our chests comes a whole new niche of beauty products designed to plump up our lips.

Lip plumpers as they're called are the reason that sales of all lip products have doubled in the past year. More than 200 variations of gels, glosses, primers, treatments, and lipsticks have come on the market, each guaranteeing to make you feel more seductive and feminine. If you are one of the millions of teens craving larger, fuller, poutier lips like the models on this month's magazine covers, here are some facts you should know about the best lip plumper.


What's in them?
When the body recognizes an irritant, its natural reaction is to create swelling. Lip plumpers often use natural agents like cinnamon, ginger, peppermint, cayenne pepper, and wintergreen to act as irritants. These in turn increase blood flow to the tissues, which gets the lips to swell temporarily. Some include natural moisturizers and antioxidants like red tea to soften the tissue.


What does it feel like?
The girls we asked reported they may sting or burn when you put them on. One said it felt like she dabbed Tabasco sauce on her lips. Another compared the feeling to eating extra-spicy Buffalo wings. Is it worth it? If your goal is an evening of shiny, glossy, bee stung lips, the answer is yes. Just be aware the results are fleeting, anywhere from half an hour to an entire evening.


Tips on choosing the best lip plumper

1. Lip plumpers are over-the-counter enhancements that come without guidelines. Read a few customer reviews and ask around before you buy one that you feel is the best lip plumper. It's up to you to decide if one that burns for 20 minutes, or feels chalky, or smells like cough medicine, or feels gooey (the so-called queen of all lip plumper's includes the word venom in its name!) might be too much pain for the gain. Or you might be one of those girls who are actually reassured when their lips sting or feel tingly that the plumper is doing its job.
2. Stay away from products that list alpha-hydroxy acids and alcohols first. They may result in dried out, parched-looking lips.
3. Creamy bases, rather than gels, are kinder to your lips.
4. Don't overuse them. We know that reapplying lip gloss can be addictive, but if you reapply lip plumpers that often, you risk the uncommon side effect of developing ulcers in the corners of your lips.
5. Don't be fooled into thinking even the best lip plumpers work for a long period of time.
6. At the end of the day there are plenty of experts who insist that the best lip plumpers don't work any better than lip gloss and a pencil combined with a pinch on your lips to make them look fuller.