Hair Trend: Plaits

Get plaiting with the hottest plaits hairstyles. Halo braids, fishtail plaits, plaited ponytails and French plaits, whether for work or play,here are some ideas from Victoria Beckham, Kristen Stewart, Katy Perry and more...

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Look of the day: Vanessa Hudgens

Rocking the boho vibe like only she knows how, Vanessa Hudgens was working a cool combo of printed maxi skirt and crop top by For Love & Lemons, the actress went back to her signature style roots as she enjoyed the sunshine. A roomy Givenchy handbag, a messy side-swept plait, floppy black hat and round sunglasses completed her laid-back look.

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Three tips to lose weight when all seems lost.

Surely, there is not a single woman who has never been on a diet, so we all know that following a diet plan is not an easy task at all. In addition, if we want efficient weight loss and a well-shaped body, this diet plan should be combined with proper exercises and sports. Sometimes we feel like nothing is going to change as our weight stays the same for weeks, however giving up is not the answer. It is just a phase, as our body gets used to our routine. However , there is a way to overcome it!

1. Don`t give up everything and get back to your old habits. This is the worst thing you can do as it will ruin everything. Your efforts and strong will do not deserve it!

2. Changes – in order to overcome this phase, some changes in your eating habits and physical activities are required. This will affect your weight and the results will follow.

3. Consult a fitness instructor and a dietician. They will be able to tell which combination of exercises and foods will be most suitable for you. By following their instructions, you will lose weight and take one step further to your desired weight.

Never give up! Perfect weight is not a myth!

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How to get over you Ex-Boyfriend

Getting over someone you love can be really hard. There's no simple solution, but with a few steps, it's possible to put the past behind you and take a step into the future. Here's an easy guide to help those who are in need of forgetting someone they used to love.

Ask yourself why you’re still holding on. Answer it truthfully, too. Maybe it’s, "Oh, well, we had such great times together," or "I just find that person so great." Whatever it is, answer it. Yet also look at what you are ignoring about this person. "He was always late." "He constantly criticized me." You may find that what you thought was ideal really wasn't.

Remove all memories of the person from your everyday life. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. What they don't tell you is that too much absence makes the heart grow distracted. In your case, this is good!

Avoid being in the same place as the person, if possible. Avoiding the person is a good way to tell your body and mind that there are plenty of other people in the world who could demand your attention. Because it's true: There are plenty of other people out there, and your whole life doesn't have to revolve around one person.

Ignore them. Try not to talk or even look at that person. It's hard to control your thoughts, of course, but when that someone does something to get noticed or be near you, try to notice something else or be somewhere else. You won't get over someone by just going with the flow.

Get a new hobby. If you're still thinking about your Ex, it might be because you just have too much time to let your mind wander. This isn't a horrible thing, but it's probably giving you too many opportunities to daydream. Pick up a new hobby by jumping into something you know makes you happy and busy, or explore something entirely new!

Take your time. Don't forget: forgetting takes time. It can take as long as years to get over someone. But it does get easier. Life is never easy, but the more you understand, and the better you understand about yourself, the easier it will get. Pretty soon, you'll look back, laugh, and wonder: "What was I thinking?!"

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Motivation Day: The Beauty of your youth

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;

Oh never mind;

You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.

But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked... 

You're not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. 

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Don't waste your time on jealousy; 

Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind.

The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; 

If you Succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters; throw away your old bank statements.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.

The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't

whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either.

Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's. 

Enjoy your body, Use it every way you can... Don't be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, 

It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own... 

Dance... even if you have nowhere to do it go in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents; you never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; 

they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. 

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Accept certain inalienable truths

Don't expect anyone else to support you. 

Maybe you have a trust fund, Maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

Beauty Rules

Some beauty rules are meant to be broken but others should be obeyed at all times. Here are some must-follow beauty rules, to get you on your way to gorgeous in no time!

1. Double Cleanse

With make-up, pollution and everyday dirt, one wash just isn’t enough. Use a cream or oil cleanser to initially break down make-up and grime, rinse, then follow with a foaming cleanser to unclog pores and leave skin super clean.

2. Body Brush Weekly
Working a dry bristle brush like The Body Shop Cactus Body Brush, £10, across your legs, bum and the backs of your arms once a week will keep skin smooth and boost circulation.

3. Be Gentle On The Eyes
As the skin around your eyes is so delicate, it pays to use a finer, more gentle cream. Massage and softly pat it into the skin using your fourth finger. Why? The natural pressure is softer from this finger and you’ll be less likely to bruise the skin.

4. Use Hair Products Effectively
For hair styling products to work effectively, they need to be absorbed into the hair. This won’t work if your hair is still sopping wet. Instead, blow-dry or let your hair dry naturally to about 75%, then apply your styling products. You’ll need to use less and they’ll work better too!

5.  Always Protect From The Heat
Heated appliances are life changing, but don't use them at the risk of forgoing your hair's health. Always use a heat protection spray, which will act as a barrier between your hair and the heated tongs or straighteners.

6. Pick The Right Shade
No beauty sin is less forgiving than wearing the wrong shade of foundation. Tip – the backs of your hands are usually tanned and darker than your face, so instead test foundation on your neck or the inside of your wrist.

7. Rinse The Right Way
Rinse after shampooing for at least three minutes to ensure dulling soap suds are washed away.

8.  Keep It Clean
Make-up brushes often get little love from us – cue breakouts and bacteria-harbouring brushes! Keep yours clean with a once a week wash using Estée Lauder Make-up Brush Cleaner, £11, and keep them in a separate container to any loose make-up.

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Make a move before it's too late.

This quote is very true. Make a move before it's too late.

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SUMMER TIME: Shop for the best bikinis

Whether you’re curvy or slim, work this season’s hottest trends including neon, metallic and sports luxe with our edit of the best bikinis to suit all shapes. 

AFRICAN PRINTS: Go tribal this summer. Don’t be afraid to be bold with colours and patterns or go with earthy colour, and whatever you do, mixing prints is a MUST. A dash of red lippie and wooden bangles will accentuate the look.

EMBELLISHED: There’s nothing like adding a bit of bling to your swimwear to feel like a celeb on holiday. Don’t be afraid to experiment with fabrics either with a studded denim number.

TROPICAL: What better way to get in the holiday spirit than be inspired by idyllic tropical destinations? Paint your nails in bright colours like vibrant corals to finish off the look.

NEON: Whether it’s fluoro yellow, pink or blue, colour-block or with patterns, there’s no better way to stand out from the crowd. Neon is most eye-popping on dark tans, so get tanning ladies!

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Can you make it work with an Ex?

So can a couple who've split up ever really make things work between them a second time around? Looking at the evidence on hand, I'm thinking the answer is probably a no -especially if there is so much scrutiny and hurt feeling left over.

Here's a few things to consider when getting back with your ex:

Why are you getting back together?

It's definitely worth considering why you want your ex back in your life. Do you miss them or do you just want to fill the void? If loneliness is driving you back to your ex's arms then you have to re-evaluate what you're doing. Being lonely is never a good reason for rekindling love. You can be just as lonely in the relationship when things are going wrong again.

Why do you think things will work the second time?

You broke up. It was messy, it was painful and it happened for a reason. So what's changed since then? Why are you two convinced that it's going to work this time when it didn't work last time? And do you really want to do things as you were doing before? Work out what went wrong, consider whether changes need to be made and remember that no person can absolutely change. Are you prepared to accept their flaws? And, more importantly, are you ready to compromise over them?

Do you both want the same things from this re-relationship?

Are you both in the same place over this rekindled romance, or is one of you more excited than the other?  There's no doubt that this will leave one, or both of you, feeling the pressure. It's far better to approach being together again slowly but surely - maybe with a few dates here and there as opposed to moving back in together.

Is the trust still there?

Trust is the most important part of any relationship and, once it's gone, it takes a while to get it back.

Are you ready to accept blame?

Accepting blame - rather than pointing the finger of blame - is the best way to get a re-relationship off the ground. It's unlikely that a relationship falls apart for just one reason, so it's time to take off the rose-colored specs and look at the past with honest eyes.  Focusing on the bad stuff that piled up between you both allows you to work on what went wrong - and ensure it doesn't happen again.

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Summer Dresses 2013

The warmer season is here and what better time to get shopping for summer dresses for your 2013 wardrobe! From cotton summer dresses to maxi dresses, for Spring/Summer 2013 my choice of the hottest sundresses will make sure you work the season in style. Find a summer dress to suit your shape with these hot fashion …

MSGM Ikat printed cotton dress

Tibi Eye-spy printed dress

Oasis peach melba skater dress

Mango open work Motifs dress

Miss Selfridge White lace trim dress

BHS Tropical printed dress

Tibi printed silk crepe the chine dress

Topshop pleated mini dress

Coast Milanay print dress

Oasis Floral beaded dress

Diane von Furstenberg Tara dress

Oasis butterfly shift dress

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Look of the day: Miranda Kerr

Miranda Kerr in Jill Stuart dress at Yves Saint Laurent cosmetics launch.

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NAIL ART: Leopard Lover!!

Leopard-print nails are fun, and one of the easiest "fancy" manicures to DIY. 

Nail art is bang on-trend, so get creative with these nail art designs. 

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Nothing is Impossible!

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Sore Muscles: Relieve the pain

In order to prevent muscle stiffness and soreness, try these seven suggestions below before relaxing for the night.

Move More
Even though you might want to flop onto the coach, first move a little more. Slowly and gently is fine. Get the blood flowing into those sore muscles by simply walking around the house or around your neighborhood, or raising your arms over your head while breathing deeply.

Stretch

Before relaxing, stretch your muscles before they stiffen, helping them to become more flexible. As oxygen flows into your muscles, you'll speed their recovery. Whether your choose yoga, Pilates or stretches of your own, you're relieving muscle soreness.

Drink Water
Water is the ultimate rehydrator. Avoid caffeine and alcohol because they can dehydrate you.

Pack in Protein
Your muscles are hungry after exertion. They crave protein. Choose natural sources such as fish, poultry, lean meats, nuts, lentils and quinoa.

Soak in a Tub
A warm bath cures many ills, and always helps ease stiff muscles. You'll also sleep better after a bath, helping you awake refreshed. If you're brave, try a hot/cold treatment, alternating water temperatures every couple minutes, to open blood vessels more.

Ease Back In
When your muscles are feeling rested, ease back into your normal fitness program gradually so your body has time to catch up with all the plans you have in store.

Remember: The most effective way to relieve muscle soreness after an active weekend is to move a bit more, drink lots of water and nourish your muscles back to health.

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Trend focus - Pastels

Lace detailing, delicate prints & texture in sweet pastel shades are set to be a huge trend for 2013.

Here are some top pastel picks! 

Quail Victoriana blouse £30 http://bit.ly/UpZ4Db

Mint slub tape jumper £28 http://bit.ly/XF1efL

Coral bonded lace panelled top £26 http://bit.ly/WqRq98

Duck egg drape collar jacket £35 http://bit.ly/WYDX7Q

Nude cross over high sandals £42 http://bit.ly/10WeuUS

Cream snake coin purse £6 http://bit.ly/14hOCk6

Cream and gold spot sock £2.50 http://bit.ly/W728o4

Lavender crosses jacquard £12 http://bit.ly/10Sr1aO

By Dorothy Perkins

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Fashion: Mixed Fabrics, Power Prints and more

Mixed fabrics, power prints and electric pops of colours. Add some spice to your wardrobe with these bold looks.

 

1. To the max
Here every piece is a statement: Cropped black jacket, flower print mini dress with black inserts, chunky platforms, equestrian hat, jewellery that goes bling. Slightly 60s, yet very now.

 

2. Tricks of the mix
Don’t match to perfect this look. Leopard, floral, optic – clash is the strategy. The acid purple boots tops it all off with their sheer brashness.

 

 

3. Rebel romance
A lady with an attitude for sure, but with her biker jacket realised in soft beige and matched with flower print trousers and lace, rebelliousness takes on a soft romantic sheen.

 

4. Boyfriend balance
Balance is the key here. Boyfriend jeans played off against ladylike jacket, heavy gold jewellery against a sweet peplum top. The result? A look that says dressed up, but feels casual.

All clothes by H&M.

 

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