A Glorious Kitchen Tea

As many of you may already know, our very own Yasmin is about to get married! On the 23rd of November 2013, yes only 10 days time, she will wed the man of her dreams. In keeping with tradition, Yasmin's bridal party and family threw her an amazing surprise kitchen tea filled with colour, gorgeous flowers and lots of fun games. Her reaction to the surprise was priceless.

12 Week Wedding Weight Loss Challenge

As the wedding day approaches stress, late night planning and a busy schedules of fittings and appointments all lead to one thing... naughty snacking. While I absolutely do not advocate fad or crash diets - particularly when you want to have that radiant bridal glow, I am all for healthy living through lifestyle change.

It is 4 months until my wedding (Nov 2013 eekk..) so in the spirit of "doing it together" I am going to embark upon a journey of hard work and sacrifice in order to reach my goal before the big day. My grand plan is to finish up my weight loss challenge 1 month prior to the wedding to fit in with may last dress fitting and also to avoid any last minute unnecessary stress.

So after weeks of research (reading, net surfing and talking with friends and industry professionals) I have decided to combine the best parts of numerous programs into 1 simple easy to manage plan. I am by no means an expert or professional in this area and I have no idea if what I have put together is going to work - but I guess if you join me on the journey we will find out together. I am hopeless at counting calories and weighing everything I eat so this plan will be simple, easy to follow and based on common sense and clean eating.

Here is my week by week 3 month plan:

FOOD:

It is recommended to eat 5 small meals each day to speed up your metabolism and curve sugar cravings. I will choose 1 item daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and 2 items from snacks as listed below. It is important to remember your portion size is everything so don't over do it!

Breakfast
2x Poached Eggs on Wholemeal Toast with Mushrooms and Spinach
Spinach and Mushroom Frittata
Muesli
Fruit and Yoghurt (I love Activia Yoghurt)
Whey Protein Shake
Banana or Berry Smoothie

Lunch
Char-grilled Chicken Skewers with Salad
Cold Rolls (or rice paper rolls)
Chicken, Zucchini & Cottage Cheese Pocket
Vegetable Soup
Curried Egg & Lettuce Sandwich 
Ham or Rare Roast Beef and Salad Wrap
Sushi
Tuna Salad

Dinner
Grilled Meat, Chicken or Fish with 2 cups of salad or vegetables
Beef or Chicken Teriyaki Vegetable Stirfry with Brown Rice or Noodles
Vegetable Stack
Greek Lamb Salad
Soup (Broccoli, Minestrone, Pumpkin)
Prawn Pad Thai
Chicken, Pumpkin and Cottage 

Snacks
Veggie Sticks with Hommus or Cottage Cheese
Low Fat Yogurt 
Fruits 
Corn Thins with Cottage Cheese, Tomato and Avocado
Handful of Nuts and Seeds
Whey Protein Shake
Herbal Tea or Decaf Coffee / Tea

Supplements
Whey Protein - after a strenuous workout 
Garcinia Cambogoia - twice daily 1/2hr before meals (As seen on Dr Oz) 

Avoid
Potato, White Rice, Cereal, Pasta, Bread, Caffeine, Fruit Juice, Soft Drinks, Cordial, Alcohol, Sweets/Chocolate, Refined Foods, Cakes and Biscuits 

My most important areas to focus on is water intake, 2 litres a day (*sigh* I struggle to drink 500ml so this will be a difficult task) and curving my sugar addiction - particularly chocolate this truly is my greatest weakness!

EXERCISE:

Choose at least 3 activities a week, when it comes to exercise I think its important to be creative and mix it up. Include activities you love - otherwise from previous experience you will end up hating the whole process!

Indoor Bike / Cross Trainer / Treadmill  (30-45 mins)
A walk or run with the dogs (30-45 mins)
Mount Lofty Climb (For this of you who live in Adelaide this is a 7.8km uphill climb)
Squat Challenge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDpB8pWEjhk)
Waist Slimming Pilates (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUur9Jqm64c)

Come along with me on the journey! Over the next 12 weeks I will share with you my struggles and breakthroughs once a week via video and blog posts. Lets lend one another support and encouragement to shed those unwanted kilos and find our inner bridal glows! 

Yasmin xx 

2013 Trending Wedding Make Up Styles

Your wedding day is the time to shine. Friends and family gather to celebrate your love and commitment to your one and only. With so much on your plate, the last thing you should have to worry about is your wedding make up. Use these tips to make dazzling your groom and guests a breeze as you present your best side to your new future.

This wedding season, there are four looks to make you into the glowing bride you’ve always wanted to be.

Be Bold

Dress up your luscious lips with a bright red to add a touch of old Hollywood flair to your big day. Remember to keep mascara and eyeliner neutral and subtle so your lips can steal the show. Wine hued shades are striking as well, and may work better with cooler skin tones. The blue tones in wine lipsticks have the wonderful added bonus of making your pearly whites sparkle. For the best results, use a lip brush and line your lips well and avoid sweeping on gloss. This will keep your pout popping all night. Whether red or wine is your color, your dreamy hubby won’t be able to take his eyes off your mouth.

Catch Their Eye

Dramatic eye make-up can say a lot to your future husband. It can remind him there is still mystery in Mrs. Right, and it will tell him he is marrying a woman with confidence.  The Smokey Eye technique is a timeless classic and suits all eye shapes.  The popular colour schemes at the moment are chocolate browns and for the more daring, even classic black.  With this look it is ideal to complement your bold eyes with a neutral or shimmering nude. Like wearing classic red lipstick, it is important to only highlight one feature dramatically and keep the rest of your makeup minimal.

Channel Your Natural Beauty

A beautiful touch; a pretty & natural Bride is always in style. This ‘Oh-so –soft’ makeup look is so easy to do! There is something magical about this look, it just works for everyone. Just add a touch of neutral shadows to the eyes using greys, browns and taupes and finish with some soft definition along your lashline using a darker shadow in the same tones.  For your lips, it’s all about adding just a hint of colour by dabbing on some of your favourite  soft lip colour then spotting a touch of gloss in the centre. Ditch the powder blush with this look and press in the remaining lip colour on your fingers onto your cheeks for a natural rouge.  A simple and elegant way to add glamour to your nuptial.

Colours of Autumn

Auburn colors work wonders, especially in highlighting hazel and blue eyes. Or think greys or neautrals for green and brown eyes.  If you want to go for the auburn look, pair it with a natural or peach toned color for your lips. These two make a fantastic couple, almost as perfect as you and your husband. If you want stunning eyes, but darker colors aren’t your thing, make your eyes pop with these simple steps. First, sweep the color across your lids, then lightly line with a black pencil, and finally, add a burst of color to the corners of your eyes. Wear this dazzling look with a natural or peach color on your lips to accentuate without over doing it.

Guest Blogger,

Selina x