SUMMER HEALTH KICK

For months on end our heads are bombarded with messages from the media about how we should eat more healthily, try the newest fad diet and become 'beach body ready'- this usually starts just after Christmas, however shouldn't we be thinking more long term? Rather than starving yourself for months and stuffing yourself with dull salads on the weeks leading up to your summer holiday (I believe it is more a form of punishment) why not change your diet and the way you feel about food in the long term?

 

So I had my summer holiday back in May- I did no preparation for it whatsoever- however I was blessed with a bug the weekend before so I ended up shedding 8lbs... in no way am I saying this is a good idea! What I'm trying to say is why bother? It's now the end of August and I bet you're wondering why I'm suddenly doing a health kick post- the reason is that I am planning a slower change in what I eat, and I most certainly wont be cutting sweets, chocolate and takeaways out of my diet!

 

Here are some ideas of how you can make tiny changes to your meals that will lower the calorie count, increase the vitamins and minerals you intake, give you more energy, and lead to a healthier lifestyle. You will notice I have included eating out in this post- I tend to find it so hard to keep on your diet if you're eating out but it doesn't have to be!

  Chickpea, spinach and tomato curry with halloumi cheese

Why not replace meat in your curry with chick pea's- it may sound gross (my boyfriend thinks so) but these will also be filling and are a healthier alternative. Similarly spinach isn't just good for your muscles... ;) it is crammed full of vitamins, similarly the halloumi cheese adds a little extra to the curry. Team this with Boiled wholegrain rice and add some spices.

  BILL'S- Crunchy kale leaf salad

Am I the only one who finds it hard to eat healthy when I am out for a meal....? too much temptation! I will admit, I was sceptical when I chose a kale salad... salads are always so dull and boring! However the flavours in this one are amazing- Kale is very popular at the moment for being good for dieting and for jam packing your meal with extra goodness. The salad also contains avocado, almond nuts, vinaigrette dressing, onions, pepper and roasted aubergine and courgette.

 

Vegetable cous cous, Roasted vegetable and mushroom

I have been off cous cous for a very long time- like since I was 7 ever since I was ill after eating cous cous one time. However now I have discovered a variety of flavours, I used vegetable, teamed with roasted courgette, carrots, onions,  big mushrooms and fennel.

  Definitely give something like this a try- even if it means just swapping one meal a week. Diets aren't all fast days, no carbs and no treats!   Any food recommendations? Let me know! :)

OOTD: iKrush

*This isn't the first time that my blog has featured iKrush, my previous post around a year ago featured their £1 dresses which they sold at the time! The online fashion retailer really is full of gorgeous on trend items at such affordable prices, and a couple of months ago I was thrilled to receive the 'skort' which is featured in my outfit of the day... for any of you who aren't familiar with the skort, it is basically a pair of shorts which is made to look like a skirt. When I got my skort I wanted to wait for the perfect occasion to wear it, and since the weather was so beautiful at the weekend, I was attending a barbeque and thought this little outfit would be perfect!

 I'm wearing: Phoenix floral print skort in black, WAS £19.99 NOW £9.99, c/o ikrush.com| Cream chiffon cami, £20, Topshop

What I particularly like about the skort is that from behind, they really just look like a pair of shorts, and from the front, the cross over design gives the impression of a skirt. The floral design is also not only really summery, but is really on trend this season. They are also super comfy to wear, although I would have to say that although these fit me perfectly, the item is a size 10 and I am usually an 8, so you may want to consider the smaller fitting nature if you want a pair!

The skort was originally selling for £19.99 which I think is such an affordable price to pay anyway, but now it is in the sale for just £9.99! I definitely recommend that you grab yourself one before they sell out... you can find the skort HERE.

I should also mention that although I wore my skort with a loose chiffon cami and jelly sandals, that on the iKrush website, you can also find a matching blazer to go with the skort if you would prefer a cute little two piece, which are very popular at the moment! However if you're not a fan, I would still recommend you visit their website at http://www.ikrush.com/ and check out all of the gorgeous clothes they have!

What do you think of my outfit? What is your opinion of the 'skort'? Leave me and comment below! :)

OOTD: jeans & jellies

I'm wearing: White crochet cami, New Look| Moto mid stone wash Joni jeans, £36, Topshop| Silver glitter jelly sandals, £6, Primark

I never usually have time to put one of these posts together as I tend to get dressed very quickly and I'm off out as I am usually late and have no time to take pictures of what I'm wearing! Today though the weather is still beautiful thankfully, even if it is a little too hot, (best not complain) and I will be spending my day in town, so I have opted for my favourite comfy jeans, although I'm sure I will begin to regret this choice as the day gets hotter. I have also chosen to wear one of my favourite cami's, I actually picked this up in New Look sale 4 years ago for just £2 and it has made an appearance in my summer outfits ever since, thrifty or what?! I just love this, as a loose floaty cami is perfect for warmer weather, and the crochet detail is so cute and very on trend at the moment. Finally I have thrown on my beloved jelly sandals which instead of buying £20 Juju jellies, I managed to pick these up a couple of months ago for just £6 in Primark! Surprisingly they actually are very comfy, I just love how these have come back into fashion because I adored mine when I was younger!

What do you think of my outfit? What would be your perfect summer outfit? Leave me a comment below! :)

June Newbies!

One of the main reasons I have managed to spend so much money this June, yet having so little money is due mostly to the Topshop sale! Honestly I have managed to find so many great buys from there which isn't just cheap crap, aha, also I finally managed to pick up one of these Aztec monochrome pelmet skirts, lace bralets and flat form sandals which have been so sought after I am so pleased to have finally found some! Basically I think this whole recent buys list is from Topshop, never mind at least my wardrobe is almost ready for summer! What do you think of my recent buys? What have you all been buying recently? :)

Black lace bralet- £22- Topshop
Monochrome Aztec pelmet skirt- £34- Topshop
Ditsy Floral scallop vest- £15- Topshop
WALLIS platform sandals- £40- Topshop
Dogtooth pelmet skirt- WAS £34 NOW £15- Topshop
Moschino Belt (replica)- $9.99- Ebay

Cluster embellished shell top- WAS £36 NOW £18- Topshop
Cream halter-neck crop top- £12- River Island
Black lace halter-neck top- WAS £28- NOW £15- Topshop
Pink shift dress- WAS £40 NOW £10- Topshop
Side double elastic leggings- £20- Topshop
MOTO Mid stone wash Joni jeans- WAS £36 NOW £20- Topshop

Laundry Boutique

* AX Paris Textured Rose Skater Dress- £26- Laundry Boutique

 

I really was overjoyed when my A X Paris summer dress arrived from Laundry Boutique, the dress was beautifully wrapped in blue tissue paper and enclosed a kind note hoping I would enjoy my new dress, and I must say, I really am!

 

There is no denying that florals are a huge summer trend year by year, and this dress really is a great investment, its diversity is fabulous! When contemplating when I could wear this dress I came up with a few occassions, ever wondered what on earth to wear to that wedding? This casual summer dress teamed with some heels will work wonderfully, that summer barbeque? Add some wedges or sandals, shopping day? Bring out the JUJU jellies, there really is no limit to how you can wear this dress and I decided I would wear it for a meal and drinks with friends, slipping on a pair of heels and a belt to sinch in the waist.

 

I particularly love how this dress is such high quality for the mere £26 price tag, the dress itself is textured which I have found works wonderfully if its a windy day and it doesn't leave you with an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction as it is thicker and a little heavier than a light floaty material. The print is also very summery and will never be out dated, and the cut out back takes the dress from a casual day dress to an evening or special occasion dress, absolutely love it!

 

As for Laundry Boutique they are a ladies fashion boutique online, and they also have stores in Chiswick, Altrincham, Stockton Heath and Chester, unfortunately living in Leeds I can only buy online! The array of clothes, shoes and accessories is so lovely and I literally have a wish list to fulfil, including; 2 skirts, a cami and a fluffy jumper. If like me you have visited the site and would like order a few bits and pieces you can use this unique discount code at the checkout by using the code: DREAMLOVELIVE10 to receive 10% OFF YOUR ORDER!

 

Don't forget, you can find Laundry Boutique online, Facebook or on Twitter and you can also find their independent accounts to keep up with latest news from your local Laundry Boutique store! What do you think of my outfit? Have you found anything in particular you love from Laundry Boutique? Leave me a comment below! :)  

May Haul

Please don't judge me, honestly I am becoming a shop-a-holic! Basically since I got into using depop I have found that I can buy all of the bits and pieces which I love from the high street, and for the sake of it being worn once, maybe twice I can buy it for a fraction of the price! Having said that, I do still buy quite a few things from in store, this little lot below are my purchases from May, as you can see I am getting myself ready for summer and for holiday. Although I really don't think it is a good idea for me to add up the total amount of money I have spent but I have had some bargains I guess, not only from depop, but also I went to a student lock-in event in Leeds just before I finished uni, 20% off at Topshop is not to be sniffed at! What do you think guys? What have you all been buying lately? :)

 Peplum lace cami top- £22- Topshop
Petites tropical cami- £20- Miss Selfridge
Floral lace crop top- Topshop- bought for £4 on Depop
Lace tassle cami- Urban Outfitters- bought for £10 on Depop
Handmade paisley print bandana crop top (back view)- Bought for £12 from White Alaska on Depop
Moto blue Rosa hotpants- £28- Topshop

Tattoo Choker- £3- Depop
Elephant choker- £3.50- Depop
Statement necklace- £5- Depop
MOTO hyper blue wash JONI jeans- £36- Topshop
Black sheer netting two-piece- £20- Stylish

This Week's Buys!

Ok, so this was just a little bit naughty of me. For somebody who literally has no money at the moment, and is yet to actually book a summer holiday, I spent a tad too much money this week on clothes, shoes and accessories, justified by "oh yeah this will be totally suitable for holiday" or "hmm this could possibly go out of stock, I best buy it now"... So yep, my bank balance took a bit of a battering this week. I bought a bikini from Topshop which I have had my beady eye on for quite some weeks now, the colour really isn't justified by the pictures, it is sort of a blue/ purple colour, I just love the design of the top, I am such a fan of frilly bikini's at the moment! A second visit to Topshop this week unfortunately meant that I succumbed to Topshop sale, and bought this matching cubic zirconia necklace and earring set, I am such a girly girl who loves all things sparkles so I just had to have these love heart earrings, I will admit however that the love heart necklace was bought as part of a bet with my boyfriend who was convinced that the 1/2 sticker meant the necklace would be £2.25 not £5.50, of course he was wrong and I was right, plus I got a necklace courtesy of him out of it! I have already told you about my visit to the shopping centre discount event, and yet again, I had my eye on these nude pink patent leather loafers for quite a few weeks, and used the 20% Office discount and the prospect of getting free Lindt chocolates and Glossybox for spending £50 as an excuse to buy these gorgeous shoes, much to the disapproval of my boyfriend. Finally, I  got myself some jelly shoes. I really love that these shoes are a major trend at the moment, I had seen some in Office, Topshop, ARK, River Island and ASOS priced around £24- £26 but finally found these ones for just £6 in Primark! What have you all been buying recently? :)

Nude pink extravaganza patent loafers- £65- Office
Heart shaped cubic zirconia necklace- WAS £10 NOW £5.50- Topshop
Heart shaped cubic zirconia earrings- WAS £10 NOW £5.50- Topshop
Glitter jelly sandals- £6- Primark
Bluebell frill crop bikini top- £14- Topshop
Bluebell tieside bikini pants- £8- Topshop