Fashion Friday...

This Fashion Friday it's all about the best trends for the spring/summer. Pantsuits, crop top and pant/skirt outfits and patterned prints are seen everywhere from red carpet events, the runway and at premiers. Even certain colours like cobalt blue and coral are ruling the fashion scene this season. Take a look at what the in trends are this season...

PANTSUITS

I've mentioned pantsuits quite a few times in my blog posts because I love them so much. They are so trendy and cute and make anyone look classy and fresh. The fashionable girls above all look fabulous in their colourful pantsuits. Shailene Woodley wore an adorable beige vest pantsuit with white tennis shoes for CinemaCom in Las Vegas. Her short pixie cut and tomboyish outfit pair really well together.
Emma Watson wore a tuxedo-esque pantsuit to David Letterman. Paired with black slingback pumps and a pulled back hairstyle and she shines bright.
Selena Gomez wore a similar tuxedo style pantsuit in a bold red colour to We Day. She too added a black pump to the ensemble that allows the suit to pop.
Lorde wore a bubble gum pink pantsuit with a black crop top underneath when she preformed her set at this years Coachella. Her signature big hair and dark lipstick 'goth' up the preppy pink look enough for her personal style.

PATTERNED CROP TOPS AND MATCHING BOTTOMS

Matching patterns and prints are extremely in this season. Not only are they adorable but they're extremely easy to throw on and not worry about matching your outfit. Whether it's a patterned pant set or printed skirt ensemble, you can't go wrong with a matching top and bottom this summer. 

Jade Thirlwall from Little Mix fashioned a cute black and white aztec printed crop top and pant set and matched it with solid black pumps. She looks very modern and chic and ready to hit the stage. 

Cher Lloyd sported an adorable lace blue and white floral crop top and skirt ensemble with white strappy heals. The british singer adds a rocky edge to the look by showing off her awesome tats.

Selena Gomez flaunts her fit midriff with this patterned turquoise blue crop top and pant outfit. She as well adds white heels to the look and throws in a cute pair of sunglasses for a perfect summery look. 

MEDIUM-SHORT HAIR

First it was all about the short pixie cut. Everyone was cutting off their long locks to get the adorable Twiggy like hairstyle. This season it's all about shoulder length/medium-short hair. I personally love this style. Don't get me wrong I love long hair, but this shorter look is perfect for the summer time - especially when you want to hit the beach. This style looks good straight, like Kylie Jenner's hair or with a few waves like Emma Roberts and Lily Collins do's. Or you could add lots of curls similar to Ashley Benson's look. Love this new style! 

COBALT BLUE

One of my favourite colour trends this season is the ever so bold and gorgeous cobalt blue. This is different from a royal blue or navy blue - it's much brighter and stands out incredibly. Uma Thurman looks fabulous in this floor length, figure hugging cobalt blue gown. Cobalt blue is trending in not only clothes but accessories too. A bold chunky necklace goes great with a white outfit to add a pop of colour. Cobalt blue nails look adorable for the upcoming spring weather. Pair cobalt blue heels with your ensemble to wow the crowd. This colour is definitely a must have this season. 

CORAL

Coral is another trending colour this season that is so beautiful. This is definitely a go-to colour for the summer time - the bold colour against tan skin gives your skin a great glow, like Doutzen Kroes has modelled in her coral bikini. Emma Stone fashions a cute coral mini dress which she paired with bright yellow pumps (awesome choice.) Coral blazers are also a great addition for you summer wardrobe like the one Blake Lively is sporting. One of my favourite lipstick colours is coral just like Cara Delevingne's bright lip. This colour can be worn in many different ways and is an absolute must have this season! 

Lifestyle Change Update One!...

Hello friends! So like I said about three weeks ago I am going to give you an update of how my 'lifestyle change' has been going. I started March 25th and it is now April 11th (making it about three weeks) and my results are that I've lost ten pounds. A pretty good start if I do say so myself (if I do say so myself, if I do say so myself....pun intended.) At the beginning it was kind of hard because I had to give up all junk food and coffee (dying.) I thought I was going to go through a withdrawal because I literally had at least two coffees a day and now I haven't had one cup in three weeks. Also, at night when I feel like having something sweet or salty - I've had to tell myself no and have something that's healthier for a snack. Whenever I get a craving where I just want to eat some ice cream or have some chips I just tell myself that it's only going to be like this for a few months and then I can treat myself. I also keep a Victoria Secret bathing suit that I bought for myself hanging on my wall that gives me motivation. My goal is to fit into it by July.

One thing that I've learned about changing my lifestyle is that the only thing that you need to fear is yourself. I've come to a realization that there's nothing in the way or stopping me from getting what I want - except me. Food is just food. Sure it tastes amazing and smells incredible but if you think about it, you chew it, swallow it down, digest it and then it's gone and forgotten fifteen minutes later.
Over the past three weeks I have learned to only eat when I am hungry. To be honest, I have gotten into such a habit of eating three meals a day and two snacks that I don't even think about eating until I can feel my stomach gurgling.

For exercise I've started walking with my mom at least three times a week. We walk about 5k each time so that's about 15k a week. I also try to go to yoga once a week too, which is very strengthening for the body. Doing other physical activities besides dragging yourself to the gym is good because you don't get bored. For me, the hardest part is just getting to the gym - once I'm there I'm good. Walking is something that is fun because I can look at the scenery, talk with my mom and just enjoy the outdoors.

Drinking water is also something that I've started to increase. I always drank water in the past - it was rare that I had juice or anything else, but now I aim to drink four bottles a day. One in the morning before noon, one after noon, one around dinner and one at night. I always put a Crystal Light in my third water bottle as sort of a reward for drinking two bottles and so I don't get bored of just drinking plain water all day.

As for food I've taken pictures of most of my meals so I can talk about the things I eat for each meal...

For breakfast I usually have fruit - mostly berries like strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. Sometimes I'll have an apple and adding a little bit of cinnamon tastes really delicious. Days when I don't feel like fruit I'll make scrambled egg whites with vegetables like peppers, zucchini, mushrooms and onion or I'll make a turkey and cheese scrambled egg white which is really good as well. There's also this type of flat bread called "matzah bread" and I'll sometimes have a piece of that with low fat cream cheese. 

I've been waking up really early recently so I eat breakfast at 8 or 9 o'clock and by the time it's 11 o'clock I don't want to eat lunch just yet so I have a snack. If I don't have fruit for breakfast then I'll have some berries for a snack. Since I have given up coffee I have started drinking tea - my favourite is vanilla rooibos from Starbucks. Green tea is also really good and it's also really healthy and cleans out your system. Other snacks that I have are jello cups. Jello is also really good for when I get a sugar craving, I'll have one of these and my craving will be satisfied. 

For lunch there are many options of what I eat. Sometimes I'll have a salad - either spinach leaves or head lettuce. I'll put some vegetables in and chicken or turkey and top it off with low fat italian dressing. I also really like making tuna salad on Ryvita snack breads topped with bean sprouts. Lettuce wraps are another option - romain lettuce leaves with diced vegetables and low fat italian dressing. I also have had quesadillas with Kraft no fat cheese slices and chicken or turkey. 

For dinner I always have some sort of protein so that I won't be hungry through out the night. Stir fry with chicken or scallops is really good. I've recently been in a soup mood so I've been making my own home made soups. I'll put chicken, spinach, broccoli, bean sprouts (because they are like noodles,) onions and zucchini. When I have soup I'll usually make a small whole wheat tortilla with either oregano or cream cheese on it. I have also made chicken nachos with a whole wheat tortilla, salsa, chicken, onions, peppers and Kraft no fat cheese slices. When I feel like fish I'll make tilapia with vegetables and tomatoes (tomatoes and tilapia goes really good together.) I've also made home made onion rings - onions dipped in egg whites and covered with crushed melba toast. When I get tired of chicken and fish I'll make mini turkey burgers and a side salad. 

Dessert, everyone's favourite meal.. because I have been eliminating all junk foods and sweets I have had to improvise when it comes to dessert. I came up with a 'mock crepe' idea. I cut up apples and roll them up in a whole wheat tortilla. Then I microwave it for about 45 seconds and the apples become very soft. I cover the tortilla with a bit of greek yogurt, fruit and some cinnamon. It's very tasty. I also found this chocolate sauce that is called 'Walden's Chocolate Syrup'. It's literally no calories, no fat, no sugar and glutton free. I dip strawberries in the sauce, refrigerate them for 30 minutes and I have my own healthy chocolate dipped strawberries. 

Something that is very important when watching your diet is portion sizes. You can eat chicken and vegetables for dinner but if you over do the amount you are eating, it's not going to work. Here are the amount of portions I have each day of food. 

Protein - 7 oz a day (not all in one meal) 

Vegetables - 16 oz a day

Fruit - 10 oz a day

Bread Substitutes - 2 different portions (when I say bread substitutes I mean tortillas, crackers, melba toast, matzah bread - anything that isn't actually bread) 

That is pretty much the amount of food I eat in one day. It's very filling if you portion it out right. 

So here's my first update for my lifestyle change, I'll be sure to update again soon with new results. Thanks for reading! 

PS.. I've added a poll on my blog where you can rate it! Take the poll and tell me what you think of my blog! 

What Is Your Eye Shape? - Tips To Help Enhance Your Eyes...

If you don't already know or are aware that there are many different types of eye shapes out there in the world then please pay attention to the following post because your make-up applications are about to get much easier.. and you're about to learn some very useful and helpful information that you can brag about to all of your friends. In the world of make-up applying, there are many rules and technicalities. Think of your eyes as a sandwich. You could throw a whole bunch of different cold cuts, sauces and garnishes on your sandwich but will it taste good? Making a sandwich takes planning and organization. You wouldn't throw together mustard, peanut butter and ham between two buns and eat it would you? If you said yes to that question I won't judge I promise... But anyways, the same applies for your eyes. In order to enhance and compliment your eyes as best as possible, you need to figure out what type of eye shape you have. Things like eyeliner and eyeshadow both should be applied according to the shape of your eye. I'm going to explain the different eye types there are and give tips on how to apply your make-up so your face will look flawless!

Wide set eyes are defined as when the space between is more than the length of an eye. Someone like Brandy has what is called wide set eyes. Your goal here is to use make-up to help create the illusion of a decrease between your eyes. Here are a few tips..

1. Eyebrows: just as Brandy has, putting a slight arch in your eyebrow gives the illusion that your eyes are closer together. 

2. Eye Shadow: using darker coloured eyeshadows will define and bring attention to your eyes. It's important to use darker colours near the base and lighter colours on the outside of the eye. 

3. Reverse flick Liner: instead of adding a "flick" to the end of your eyeliner towards the outside, extend your eyeliner line towards your nose a tiny bit. This helps to make the eyes appear to be closer together. With all of the dark dramatic make-up you are applying to your eyes, use a white eyeliner pencil in the waterline to open up your eyes. 

4. Mascara: load up on the black mascara to enhance those gorgeous peepers! 

Down turned eyes are defined as when the outer corner of your eyes appear to droop down. Actress Camilla Belle is an example of what down turned eyes are. Your goal here is to use make-up to make the eye appear more perked upwards. Here are some tips..

1. Foundation: with down turned your eyes may appear to look 'droopy', there may be bags or dark circles under your eyes that are more prominent and you can appear to look tired. To help avoid these issues, apply a small amount of foundation underneath your eye. This will help to brighten up the eye. 

2. Liner: liner is a very crucial part of your make-up application especially when it comes to enhancing down turned eyes. What you want to do here is instead of following the natural curve of your lid, stop a few centimetres before you reach the end and angle your 'flick' towards your temple. This will help lift your eyes. 

3. Eyeshadow: stay away from dark colours near the outer corner of your eyes. In this case, Camilla did not follow this rule and the effect, in my opinion, really brought attention to her droopy eyes. Use natural and light colours near outer corners of your lids to brighten and lift your eyes. 

4. Eyelashes: curling your eyelashes will also help to lift your eyes. Be careful with heavy fake lashes because they will definitely drag your eyes down. 

 

If you have almond eyes I must congratulate you because you have what is known as the "ideal" eye shape. This is the easiest eye shape to apply make-up to. Almond shaped eyes are defined as having a symmetric shape - tapered at each end, hence looking like an almond. Actress Olivia Wilde's eyes most definitely resemble that almond shape. Here are a few enhancing tips..
1. Eyeliner: to enhance the beauty of the almond eye, starting from the very corner and lining the lash line all the way out into a taper or flick will look amazing on this eye shape. 2. Eye Shadow: you basically have creative freedom and can go as heavy or as light as you want when it comes to shadows. One technique, as seen by Olivia, is to smudge a bit of shadow underneath the eye to make your eyes pop. Also, with this shape adding coloured shadow to the upper part of the lid will open up the eye and help brighten it.

Close set eyes are defined as having less than the length of one eye between them, the opposite of wide set. Modern Family actress Sarah Hyland has close set eyes. Your goal here is make your eyes seem further apart than they are. Follow these tips..

1. Eyebrows: try to stay away from having your eyebrows too close to the middle of your forehead. You want your eyebrows to start at the inner corner of your eyes to make them appear further apart. 

2. Eyeliner: unlike what Sarah has, try not to start your eyeliner at the very inner corner of your eye, start it a bit before the middle of your eye. Add a wing or flick at the end to stretch out your eyes. 

3. Eyeshadow: when it comes to shadows, you want to start off with light colours in the inner corner and fade into a darker colour towards the end. The light will open up the inner corner and the dark will draw attention to the outer corner making them look longer. 

 

Protruding or prominent eyes are defined as big or round, bulging out (which is quite a harsh way to say it) and are quite prominent on your face. Actress Christina Ricci is an example of someone with protruding eyes. With this eye shape, less is definitely more because your eyes are already a gorgeous work of art. Here are ways to enhance these beauties..

1. Eyeliner: a thin line starting from the inner corner all the way out works well with this eye shape. You don't need a lot or a thick line because your eyes already naturally stand out. 

2. Eyeshadow: with this much lid space protruding eyes make a make-up artists' dream come true! You can go all out with colours and patterns if you please and it will look awesome on you. Enhancing your crease line will also look really great on you. One thing that is important is to try and add some shadow below the eye as well so there isn't an overwhelming amount of focus on the top lid. Try to avoid glittery/shimmery shadows - these tend to 'bulge' the eyes more. 

3. Mascara: plenty of mascara is great but try to steer clear from overbearing fake lashes which will open the eye too much and give you a doll type look (unless that's what you're going for.) 

Hooded eyes are defined as when your natural crease is hidden by the excess skin under your brow, hence "hooded". Selena Gomez and I both have hooded eyes. This eye shape can be difficult to work with because there isn't a lot of lid space to work on. These are a few ways to help your make-up application with hooded eyes (from personal experience)..

1. Eyeliner: for me personally, I've found that what works best for me is starting from the inner corner and going out to a flick. What isn't a good thing to do is apply eyeliner in the water line. This will cause the eyes to appear smaller than they are. Add white in the water line instead to open up the eyes. 

2. Eyeshadow: with hooded eyes, you don't have much space to do anything and you are also limited to how high on the lid you can bring your shadow. Personally, if my shadow goes any higher than a little above my crease, I start to look like a clown - this is because when someone with hooded eyes places shadow on the brown bone, it creates an even more droopy effect. If you are going to put shadow on the brow bone stick to a highlight colour right underneath the brow to take away from the hooded part. Also, adding a bit of shadow underneath your eye will help to make your eyes appear bigger. 

3. Eyebrows: because you do not have much room to work with, ensure that your eyebrows are always clean and crisp to maximize the space you have. 

Deep set eyes are defined as located deeper in the skull or eye socket and appear to be 'sunken in.' This allows your brow bone to become more prominent. Megan Fox is an example of someone with deep set eyes. The goal here is to make your eyes pop. Follow these tips to help enhance your eyes..

1. Eyeshadow: keep shadows on the lid to bring your eye forward. Adding a highlight in the inner corner will also help to make your eyes pop. Stay away from darker colours or smokey eyes because this will make your eyes appear more sunken. 

2. Eyeliner: a thin line across the lash that is slightly lifted at the end will help to bring forward the eyes. Also, starting from the middle of your bottom lash line apply a thin line of liner to the outer corner to help your eye recede. Stay away from lining your water line, this will sink your eyes. 

3. Mascara: adding fake lashes is a great idea because the bigger the lashes the more your eye pops. Add lots of emphasis to your outer lashes to open your eyes up.   

Asian eyes are defined as slightly smaller, resembling almond shaped and do not have a visible crease. Lucy Liu is an example of someone with asian eyes. The goal here is to enhance them and make them look bigger. Here are some tips..

1. Eyeliner: apply a thin line across the whole lash line and add a wing if you please. Stay away from liner in the water line for this will make the eye appear smaller. 

2. Eyeshadow: do not overuse dark shadows. The best way to do eyeshadow on asian eyes is to go for an ombre effect. Start with dark shadows underneath your eye, medium shades on your lid and highlight your brow bone. The dark and highlight will help to open up your eye and allow it to appear bigger. 

3. Mascara: the more the better. Double up layers, add fakes, the more extreme your lashes are the bigger your eyes will appear. 

So those are the eight main eye shapes known in the make-up world. I hope you have decided which shape you are and I hope I have provided you with some helpful tips and information. All eyes are beautiful, enhancing them will provide us with even more beauty.  

My Academy Country Music Awards Best Dressed Picks...

The Academy Country Music Awards were on last night and every country cutie and cowboy attended to celebrate the honky-tonkiness that is country music. The awards were well deserved, the musical performances were pleasing and the fashion was out of this world! Of course, as I have said before, my favourite part of award shows are the red carpets, where the attendees always look their very best and absolutely fabulous. Here are my best dressed picks for the 2014 Academy Country Music Awards...

Cassadee Pope

Wearing red on the red carpet is very risque and tricky to master, but I absolutely think that Cassadee Pope has nailed choosing the correct red for walking the carpet. Cassadee is wearing a wine coloured Maria Lucia Hohan gown - the make and style of the dress is perfect for her frame with the elegant flowy skirt and criss cross straps. Because of the busy strapping of the gown, choosing to accessorize lightly was the right decision for her look. I love her natural looking waves - pulled back off of her face along with her natural make-up and a nude lip which balances out the bold red of the dress. With just a simple diamond bracelet and matching earrings, Cassadee looks simply gorgeous.

Shakira

Oh baby when you dress like that, you make a fashionista go mad! Shakira pun most definitely intended. This gown is totally crazy and out there but it totally works for the exotic spanish singer and I love it! Shakira is wearing an emerald green Zuhair Murad gown with amazing, bold cutouts. This dress reminds me of an alluring butterfly that mesmerizes any one who passes by and this is exactly what Shakira does (in this gown or even in sweatpants to be honest.) Once again, limited accessories was the right choice with this very daring dress as well as hair and make-up. When it comes to Shakira's look, less is more. Shakira shows off her gorgeous, thick, blond locks and her beautiful face with a natural make-up application. Stunning, stunning, stunning!

Taylor Swift

Miss Taylor Swift brings a crop top and maxi skirt to a whole other level! As always, the princess of country looks so chic on the red carpet. Going for a black and white look, Taylor turns a summery beach look into a red carpet ready ensemble. Cut outs, mid-section and a little leg showing gives the look a sexy and spicy addition without revealing too much. Her black strappy heels are great paired with her simple look as well as her matching black clutch. The trend on the ACMA's red carpet this year seemed to be limited jewellery, which you don't always need to layer up on the jewels to make a look pop. Taylor is showing off her new adorable short hair cut that adds a bit of edge to her classy and modern look. Miss Swift goes for blue eyeliner - making her blue eyes pop, and a big surprise here, instead of her signature red lip she goes for a coral colour instead which looks very springy and compliments the blue. 

Kellie Pickler

This year has been a very colourful year on the ACMA's red carpet - red, yellow, green, blue, nude, black and white and now Kellie Pickler in this gorgeous lilac coloured Romona Keveza gown. This dress looks amazing on Kellie and compliments her skin tone really well. The simple sweetheart neckline, a touch of sparkle on the waist and the long flowy gown definitely grabbed the attention of everyone last night on the country carpet. Kellie's short, wavy bob and natural make-up pairs well with the soft pastel coloured dress. A touch of diamonds on her wrist and finger creates an elegant fairy tale look on Miss Pickler! 

Summer Wish List...

Wow. So it's been a while since I've blogged but that's because I was finishing up with school - exams, seminars, essays. I'm finally done (just have one more exam) so I am free to blog again! On Tuesday or Wednesday I'll be posting my first 'Lifestyle Change' blog where I'm going to update you on my progress (I'm excited to share.) This post is going to be my summer wish list - just a list of things that I want for the summertime. Hopefully that warm weather gets here soon!!

Jumpsuit

Jumpsuits are so in and they are very stylish. What I love most about them is how versatile they are - you can wear them out casually or you can dress them up with heels and lots of jewellery for a fancy night out. There are so many different kinds of jumpsuits out there as well; denim, wide leg, velour, strapless, patterned.. you can basically have a field day trying to choose which style you want (and did I mention that they are extremely comfy?) I really want to grab one of these this summer. 

Romper

Basically a shorter version of a jumpsuit, rompers are so cute, light and so fashionable. You can wear them to a pool party over your bathing suit or you can wear them to the mall, again very versatile. Just like the jumpsuit they come in so many styles, colours and prints. I think I might just buy myself a whole closet full of rompers and I'll be set for  any event this summer! 

Charlotte Olympia Flats 

Okay so I've wanted these flats for a very long time because they are so adorable but obviously they are a little out of price range.. so every time I walk by a store window with them on display I just want to cry because they are so cute. I think that they would be great to wear this summer with a dress or ankle jeans or even tights. I have seen rip offs at Ardenes and even a few places online so I'm going to make it my mission to find a pair as close to the real ones as I can for the cheapest price. Wish me luck!  

Top Shop Velvet Lips 

If you knew the amount of times I've been to Top Shop and went to see if this product was in stock you'd laugh - partly because I've been so many times and partly because each time they never had it in stock. Right now Velvet Lips is one of their top selling make-up products and I want it extremely badly! It also comes in black and a plum/purple colour. I really love the red even though I have millions of red lipsticks already but hey, you can never go wrong with a red lip, right? 

Mac Diva Lipstick 

Oh surprise, surprise Alex wants another red shaded lipstick - but this one is a maroon/deep red colour which I promise I don't have!!! I absolutely love this colour and I've been looking for a deep red lipstick for a while and you can't go wrong with Mac right? So this will definitely be on my shopping list next time I hit the mall. 

Coloured Blazers

My goal is to own a blazer in every single colour of the rainbow spectrum. I think they are so useful and work for any look. You can wear them with basically everything - pants, a dress, shorts. Blazers are not only a major clothing staple for your closet, they are also great to turn any casual outfit into a more sophisticated look. They are definitely a must have for the summer. 

Tiffany Blue Nail Polish 

I've wanted this colour for a long time now and it's so perfect for the summer. It's fresh, clean and looks great against tan skin! This colour is exactly like Tiffany blue, it's so cute. The one in the photo is NARS in kutki which is pretty pricey at $38 but there are some cheaper options that have that same Tiffany blue look. There's "China Glaze in For Audrey", "Essie in Turquoise and Caicos" "Nicole by OPI in My Lifesaver" and there's even a nail polish by Top Shop called Pool Party that's a Tiffany blue shade. I'm definitely going to be using this colour a lot this summer.