Wednesday 30 October 2013

Morning Walks Photo Diary

Hello all, I have a quick photo diary to show you today.
I try to go on morning walks (or #bootycalls for you TIU girls!) 4-5 times a week. I get up an hour before I normally would and ill run/walk for 40 minutes. It is honestly the BEST way to wake up.
I had a terrible sleep last night, I get a sore back from time to time and lying down is the worst for it, so of course it woke me many times during the night. I was up at 2am standing in the living room. Yup, just standing. Being upright helps (I am strange I know). Anyway when it got to 6am I thought I am way to tired to get up and out the morning, but I couldn't sleep because it was killing, so I though ahh may as well just go..... and wow was I rewarded for it. I often take way to many photos on my phone, I'll tend to pop one up on Instagram and leave the rest in my phone. I thought today I would share with you all the photos I took the morning, they are too beautiful not to share. Something about early in the morning with the sun rising is really calming and special for me. Maybe its just the fact that I'm impressed with myself for being outside at 6am, but I think it really is a great way to reset yourself and decide how you want the day to go. Anywho, I hope you like the photos, I might start doing weekly photo diaries as I always have so many!! Might be nice to get a documentation happening on the interwebs so if my phone ever goes walkabouts Ill still have the memories! 
xoxo
















Wednesday 16 October 2013

My Best Addiction Yet: ♥ Tone It Up ♥


Spring is one month away!
Hello all, hope you are all well.
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Oi, so I am not 100% sure how to write this post, how to get across how important and amazing I think it is and how it has entirely changed my life and view point for the better; I guess I shall just type out whatever I think and hope it comes across in a concise way!
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So first up, this post is all about Tone It Up which is a lifestyle that has been created by Karena and Katrina. If you have never heard of these beauties before, I would say go check out their website and YouTube channel before reading the rest of this!
Website LINK!
YouTube LINK!
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Team COOLA :) http://toneitup.com/blog.php?Summertime-5527
I want to write this post out for someone who would be just finding Tone It Up and not quite sure how to use it to their advantage, and then also write my story of finding it and the changes it has given me. So if you have just stumbled across TIU, I would first recommend subscribing to them on YouTube or bookmarking it and signing up to the free emails which you can do on their website:

Then I would say to go and make a profile on the community page - LINK!
This is where you can interact with other girls on their health and fitness journey, ask questions, check in and track your progress!
 There are two options with TIU, you can have a free profile and follow the workouts on YouTube for free also, or you can join the community and pay which entitles you to their Nutrition Plan. This is what I have and love it. It does cost $150, but its a once off fee and you get a lifetime of updates! When you think about how much you would pay for a dietitian or a personal trainer, it really makes sense to buy the plan if your serious about becoming healthier. The Nutrition plan comes in a variety of plans from regular, vegan, vegetarian etc. It is like a recipe book but one that actually explains why certain foods are good for you, what times of the day foods work best in your body, how much water a day you should be drinking and what foods to eat together to gain maximum benefit. Plus it also includes a 7 day slim down and a 5 day slim down that you can do every few months or once or twice a year to help detox or to prep you for a big event, photoshoot etc.
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Karena's fave bag for Summer from Urban Outfitters

Ok, so how I found TIU ~


I am obsessed with YouTube and watch it WAY more than TV, it is my entertainment (thank goodness for choosing the unlimited Internet option!)

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Naturally I stumbled upon TIU when I was searching for some at home workouts.
At the start of 2013 I made the decision to really focus on my health this year. I decided to give myself the entire year to change my body, not just a week on a fad diet like I use to (horrible idea btw, you starve for the week or month constantly thinking about milky way bars then as soon as the 'timeframe' is up you gorge yourself on everything you set your eyes on - ugh!) By allowing myself a year to change my body and eating I was nicer to myself and realised I wanted this to become a permanent thing, I wanted to be happier and healthier and confident in a bikini (to tie in with that whole bikini shopping addiction I have!)
 Karena and Katrina have this amazing ability to make you feel like they are your friends, I instantly connected with them and their genuine care in wanting to help others is what made me click. I paroozed all their workouts, tried a few, started reading the blog and signed up to the free emails. I desperately wanted the plan but wasn’t 100% on it, it's a lot of money to spend if you’re not sure. I tried some of the recipes they had on the blog, oh my gosh - let’s all just stop for a minute and look at this:


Yes, a healthy lifestyle that allows you to slim down, tone up and eat pancakes (which taste amazing ps, I’m addicted). That was it for me, I signed up, downloaded the plan, went to my local office works, paid $130 to get it printed in colour and bounded (I’m insane I know, but I was determined to get it right this time and really give it my all).
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Beach Babe Bikinis http://beachbabedvd.com/apparel/

I then started following the workouts the girls post on the website, got the beach babe DVD and did the workouts on there, started doing booty calls (not what you’re thinking!) and began to change my eating habits. The thing that has worked amazing for me is that each week on the website they put up a weekly schedule with a layout of workouts to do for the entire week. I decided to start following these and entering them into an app called Errands on my phone each Monday morning to keep myself accountable. I will actually put in the times I'm planning to do the workout and fit it in around my work, seeing friends, going out etc. By doing this I'm setting myself up to succeed because I really hate not ticking them off! Plus K&K are creating these weekly workout plans that make sure you are incorporating cardio, toning, abs, legs etc so I feel confident in knowing I'm working out every part of my body!
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Summer-to-Do #2: Go retro. Dig your old roller skates out of the basement and tour your neighborhood on wheels!
I have been living this lifestyle for 10 months now and so far I have lost 5kg, 7cms around my waist, I've toned up massively, I can now run 5km no worries, I have entered and run a 5km race, I have abs and a v starting to show through, my nails are stronger, my hair is shiny and most importantly I feel amazing; healthy, full of energy, happier and really loving this way of life!

tone it up girls
To begin with it is tough because your body is use to different foods, but I've actually found my taste buds have changed, and foods in their basic, purest form actually are so much tastier to me now, I no longer crave sugar or sweets but instead crave fruit juices and protein pancakes!
It takes 21 days to form a habit, and once you've past that it becomes a lifestyle! I am addicted to workouts and I feel off and sluggish if I miss a few!
My trainers! Tone It Up's Karena and Katrina motivate and inspire me everyday to become a better person...along with getting fit. Motivation from 2 of the most genuine people I someday hope to meet in person!
Another amazing thing TIU does is a few challenges each year, the pic above was for the bikini series challenge this year (and I actually won a massive prize from!) and currently we are doing a Frisky Fall Challenge! This is where prizes are given away to girls who are motivating, inspiring, following the schedule and checking in - such a good way to get motivated to workout and eat healthy! I won a bunch of Victoria Secret and Tone It Up stuff which was just amazing! Getting to see my body shape change, being healthier and more energised and then being rewarded for it?! Ahhh yes please!
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Below is a pic of me from a few weekends ago, I am finally at the point where I feel good in a bikini! There is also a few of the pics of my yummy food! Eating healthy is so far from boring, its so colourful and tasty!!!


One thing that has been the biggest difference in this entire lifestyle / body overhaul is the community ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ LINK!

This is where you can connect with all the other girls and ask questions, check in with your workouts and what foods you ate that day, get advice, give advice and support one another. This has been the place where I feel safe. Wired to say it like that but any TIU girl reading it will 100% agree. The community is this really special place in todays world where thousands of women have no hate, judgement, jealously or bitchy-ness. It is a place completely filled with happiness, support, encouragement and joy. This is so unique. To find something where women motivate one another to achieve everything you can and believe that you truly can is mind blowing to me, I absolutely love it. I now have friends from all over the world who I am happy telling all sorts of things, they have become a support system for me ♥ ♥ 



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So, to round it up! If you want to tone up, loose some weight, eat healthier, live longer and feel happier; then here is what I think you should do:
~ Go to the Tone It Up Website and sign up!
~ Download the app onto your phone called Errands
~ Each Sunday night or Monday morning go onto the TIU website to get the weekly workout schedule and enter into the Errands app the times you are going to do them each day
~ Create an account on the Community and check into it each and everyday! 
~ Do a bootycall at least 3 times a week!
~ Make Sunday afternoon (or anytime that suits) your Sunday Prepday! Make up some healthy snacks and lunches for the week that you can freeze or store in containers, preparing is everything!! You will succeed if you prepare!
~ Buy the TIU Nutrition Plan if you are keen to learn more about healthy foods and why they are so good for you
~ Start tagging workout photos and food on instagram so you can connect with TIU girls there too!
~ Be patient and kind to yourself, I always think that one unhealthy meal wont make me gain weight, just as one healthy meal wont make me loose weight. You are what you repeatedly do! 


I could honestly keep writing more but I think I will leave it at that for now, please let me know if you have any questions about any of it or if you would like more posts about it, or posts on things I make for meals etc. Just let me know, I am happy to respond! 
I hope you enjoyed this post and are having a wonderful day wherever you may be as you read this! 
xoxo


Wednesday 2 October 2013

Spring / Sumer 2013 / 2014 Trends


Hello all,
Spring has sprung over here in Australia, which has me excitedly looking foward to the Spring / Summer trends for this coming seasons. Typical of being in Australia, we are a year behind in the fashions due to that whole opposite seasons / opposite sides of the world thing. However I like to think we get to see all the trends tried and tested by our friends over the water first, so by the time they make their way to our shores I am already pretty set on what I think will work for me and what I can incorporate into my wardrobe.
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As with most trends, I always opt for the cheaper version; firstly to see if the trend stays for more than a season and secondly to see if I enjoy it myself and if it suits my shape. If it does I tend to then go for a better quality version to wear for mulitple seasons!

Ally Fashion Top: LINK!




Boohoo Dress: LINK!


Frist up is the 'china plate look' as I like to call it, or 'porcelian' as the fashion world says. I love this mix of white with blue, it makes me wish I was in the Greek Islands and I think it will be a beautiful summer staple.




Sabo Skirt Floral Blazer: LINK!






Asos Floral Dress: LINK!



Boohoo Floral Dress: LINK!

Of course there is floral, I dont really think a Spring / Summer is complete without a few floral pieces. Perfect for those warm spring days, florals brighten up any look and add that slight touch of 'girlyness' to an outfit. This is one key trend that I am happy to spend a bit more on as I think it has that lasting power for multiple years and also multiple seasons.  


Image 1 of ASOS RECLAIMED Vintage Look Floral Top

Image 4 of ASOS RECLAIMED Vintage Look Floral Top

Asos Crop Top: LINK!




Daily Look: LINK!

Here we have the 'sets' look, something that is relativley new this coming season. We saw this emerge last Spring / Summer in the format of Suit sets with shorts and blazers matching. This is something that I feel may be a little to 'trendy' to last awhile, but with the right print and length I think it would be a perfect look for a night out, a picnic, an outting with the girls etc. And on the plus, you can wear each piece seperate too!

Ally Fashion Crop: LINK!




Ally Fashion Crop: LINK!


Sabo Skirt Bustier: LINK! 






Daily Look Crop Top: LINK!


My Daily Look Link, 25% off, code: FALLISBACK - LINK!
 


The final trend I have today is the crop top. A controversial piece I know, I think you either love it or hate it. It is something I've never delved into before but im sort of considering it this summer. I think if you make sure you dont show all of your midriff it can still look 'put together'
I'm thinking a bandage style crop worn with pretty high waisted flowing skirt or a loose crop with high waisted jeans would work out ok. The key is to make sure whatever crop you have on top, you balance it out with the bottom half. What do you think? Yay or Nay on the cropped trend?
 
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So there we have my first look into the Spring / Summer trends, any of these trends tickle your fancy? What are you looking foward to wearing this summer? And if your over on the other side of the world, please let me know what was your most worn trend last summer?
xoxo