NYE: Shine Bright And Steal The Night

I think I may have mentioned once or twice (ok, I'm sure it's been a lot more), that I love sequins. It's an unwavering and timeless love of epic proportions (if I had to liken it to a movie, it would be The Notebook... Noah (Me) + Allie  (Sequins) = True Love).

So when it comes to a New Years Eve outfit, I'm always excited to put together something with a little sparkle! This year, I found a sequin blazer from Sabine. I'll be wearing this with a slightly ruffled black dress, sheer stockings and patent almond toe pumps.

























Have you organised an outfit for New Years Eve? If you're still searching for something, I thought I'd share some last minute sequin-spiration...

1.  Sequin One Shoulder Chiffon Dress, Aidan Mattox
2.  Sequin Becky Jacket, Rebecca Minkoff
3.  Sequin Bow Heels, Topshop
4.  Samantha Sequins Dress, French Connection
5.  Long Sleeve Sequin Blazer, Michael Kors
6.  Harlow Sequin Envelope Clutch, BCBGMaxazria


I've heard that the way you spend NYE is how the next year will be... so, what are you up to for the night - relaxed and quiet, or big festivities? Please do tell - I always love hearing your plans! Chris and I are away on vacation, so we'll be enjoying a nice dinner, then cocktails somewhere overlooking the fireworks.

New Year Inspiration: Eat Like A Supermodel

After all the deliciousness of Christmas and seriously ridiculous amounts of food, it's almost time to squeeze into my New Years Eve dress... and I'm starting to wish I'd had a few less helpings of turkey (oh ok, my downfall was probably all the pudding, rum balls and cookies).

I read an article online from Grazia recently that provided some insight into the diets of supermodels including the always gorgeous Miranda Kerr, seemingly forever young Elle Macpherson and English beauty Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Miranda Kerr

With the New Year fast approaching, I'm not one to make impossible resolutions that I've failed at before January 2nd. As mentioned yesterday in Dream BIG in 2013, this year I am setting goals instead - and positive ones, things I want to do (rather than "I will not..."). After reading this article, I thought should probably take on board some of the tips below and try to live a leaner, healthier 2013.

Wanna look like a Victoria's Secret Angel? (Umm, yes please!) Then Justin Gelband is the man with the eating plan. His clients include glamours such as Miranda Kerr, Erin Heatherton and Candice Swanepoel. 

Candice Swanepoel and Erin Heatherton

Following the Eat Right For Your Blood Type program, Justin says "it really breaks down the foods that are most beneficial for you". Heavy carbs, sugar and salt are no-go's for the girls, instead he recommends they get nutrients, vitamins and minerals from fruits, vegetables and natural ingredients. Adopting a holistic approach to wellbeing, Justin believes that being mentally and spiritually strong as incredibly important, "being stable and controlling the demands given to you comes from your mental health". The key to achieving this? Incorporate fitness into your lifestyle, with 30 to 60 minutes of cardio daily.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Elle Macpherson

James Duigan, author of the Clean & Lean Diet Cookbook, lists stars such as Elle Macpherson, Erin Heatherton and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley among his clientele. James believes "the fastest way to a beautiful body is to get yourself healthy" and the key to this is a diet high in protein, low in carbs, with moderate exercise. He explains "if models are too stressed, running three hours a day, we get them to do yoga, meditate and cut their exercise in half. When you're exercising yourself into the ground, you deplete your adrenal glands and raise your stress hormones. You only have to do 10 to 20 minutes of targeted exercise". James also says it's important to do what makes you happy, it can just be something simple like going for a walk with your dog or family.

When it comes to eating, sugar is the enemy. James is firm that "it isn't a reward - it's a toxin, like a nuclear fat bomb exploding on your body". As I originally read this article, I was actually eating a caramel slice at the time - consequently, I found the 'nuclear fat bomb' comment rather disturbing.

James is also not too keen on 'low-fat' products, "if you look at the ingredients and it's full of sugar, salt and chemicals - don't have it".  So what does a supermodel under James's care eat? He recommends the following simple meal plan:

Breakfast:  Scrambled eggs with asparagus
Lunch:  Lentil salad with tomatoes
Dinner:  Grilled fresh fish and vegetables

This diet is obviously super healthy and I know it would be so good for you! But I must admit, I find it hard not having a little treat (aka 'nuclear fat bomb') - that's why Kourtney Kardashian's diet plan with the Oreo's sounds pretty good to me! In 2013, I think I'll try to do more fish and salads, that way when I do have a treat it (hopefully) all evens out.

Do any of your new years resolutions involve diet or exercise? If so, what have you decided you'd like to do or improve?

Dream BIG in 2013

With only three days left in 2012, I feel mixed emotions. It's been an amazing year and I've had the opportunity to do so many brilliant things, but it's hard to believe how quickly the time has flown by! 

One whole year.

Do you remember when you were really young and a year would feel like an eternity? Now it's scary how fast 365 days goes.

So this time a year ago, I was on my very first holiday with Chris (we went to Vietnam). You know what that first vacation together is like, it's kind of make or break. It was an incredible trip and now happily, one year on, I'm sitting in our hotel room on another holiday together.

New Years Eve 2012, Vietnam  (yes - that's me in a backpack... first time I'd ever wore one & haven't done so since)

I always seem to spend these last few days of the year a little nostalgic for what has been, but equally excited for what I want to make the next year.

Notice I said what I want to make the next year? I truly believe that - it's up to us to create the best year of our lives. So in thinking about 2013, I've set my challenge for the next few days to dream BIG. And I encourage you to do the same!

I often find New Years resolutions are over before they've even begun. Last year one of mine was "I will not eat any fries for a whole year". Fast forward to 1:30pm January 1st 2012... I'd just ordered some fries for lunch.

So instead of resolutions, this year I am creating goals - and focusing on positive ones (rather than not doing something, I am going to do something). I still have much thinking and dreaming to do in the next couple of days, but I do know three things. I want to...

1.  Run my first half-marathon.  I'd like to point out, I am not a natural runner by any stretch of the imagination. I've been doing a little training each morning before work for the last three months, so I want to keep going and kick things things up a notch.

2.  Create a true community, genuine friendships and great content with my blog.  I want to do BIG things with this! Since starting 8 weeks ago, I've loved every minute and continue to be amazed at all the wonderful people I meet. I relish the creativity blogging allows and am so excited to continue building something I'm passionate about and love doing.

3.  Be a tourist in my own town.  You know when you visit another city, you always think "Wow! There's so many fun things to do!" When you live somewhere, I think it's easy to just go to the same places and do the same things. So next year, I want to do or try things I've never done before. It could be simple, like drinking a cocktail in a honey pot (there's a bar that does this and I've always wanted to go), through to something totally adventurous!

I must confess, I often don't share things like this... because I do them for me, I usually set them as secret goals, so I know I've achieved them and there isn't any outside pressure! But I guess you'll all keep me focused, if I haven't told you about a honey pot cocktail by June - please send a firm reminder!!

Have you thought about any goals for 2013 yet? I'd love you to comment and share them - we can keep each other on track ;)

I've added this to Tell Me About It Tuesday and 2013 Resolutions Link-Up.

An Aloha Affair...

Hosted by

Local Sugar Hawaii

&

Lauren                              Amy                              Jessica                          Tess                         Mayra   

An Aloha Affair's Beautiful December Team

Each week we'll feature two of our sweet team members and their responses to our conversation starter so that you can get to know them better.

December's Conversation Starter:

What is the best gift you've ever given or received?

For more info on joining future An Aloha Affair teams please email:

localsugarhawaii@gmail.com

An Amazing Blog Changing Experience... Join the New Link-up + Advertising

Prior to Christmas, it had been an exciting few days for my blog. I spent an absolutely wonderful hour and a half chatting to the gorgeous, funny, sweet and smart Erin from Living In Yellow. Her blog is my daily must read - if you're uninitiated you need to get yourself over there - now! (Ok, after you read the rest of this... but then seriously, go check it out!) Erin just started a consultation program and it is fabulous!

So this whole amazing, blog changing experience has marked the introduction of some new things around here...

JOIN ME FOR A NEW WEEKLY BLOG LINK-UP

I've been hatching this idea for a while and I'm excited to tell you, starting in January I'll be hosting a weekly link-up called Style Sessions. I think we always learn so much from other people and the cute outfits they put together. I also believe we all have a little Rachel Zoe inside, so I think it will be a fun way for us to get together and share our style! Plus, each week I'll be featuring a 'Head Stylist' - so stay tuned, all will be revealed with the first link-up on Wednesday January 16th!

Also I have to tell you, it was so funny - as I was explaining this idea to Erin, something happened to our video chat. I was talking and talking (and talking) and thinking "wow, her head hasn't moved - she must be so enthralled in what I'm saying! I knew it was a good idea!" Then I also noticed her eyes hadn't moved... are we having an impromptu staring competition? Ha two can play at this game! It finally occurred to me to awkwardly say, "um, Erin? Are you there?"  Nope, I'd just been chatting away to myself.

ADVERTISING

Another exciting announcement is that I would now like to extend an invitation for you to advertise your blog or store here. I've decided on a couple of options, which I truly believe will offer more value and benefits that just a standard sidebar advertisement. These include:

I'm so passionate about marketing and advertising, it's what I completed by Masters degree in - so I can't wait to work with you to promote your blog or store! If you would like to book an advertisement or have any questions, please email me at stylelixir@gmail.com.

I hope you like these new options, I'm also very much looking forward to you joining me for the first Style Sessions link-up on Wednesday 16th January!

Now go and have the most fabulous day!!  What are you up to?  I bought a new camera in the sales yesterday, so I'm off to experiment - hopefully I'll have some great pics to show you! I've also linked this up to Random Wednesday and YOLO Mondays.

Merry Christmas And Much Love To You All

Good morning and Merry Christmas my gorgeous blog friends!

Wherever you are in the world and whatever you are doing, I hope you're enjoying the most wonderful time with your family and loved ones.

Eat delicious food, have fun opening gifts, be in the moment and enjoy every single minute of this magical day. I wish you laughter, love and the truest happiness this Christmas.

Have so much fun and I hope Santa was very nice to you this year! :)

Tim Allen And A Whole Lot Of Gift Wrap

Hellooo and Happy Sunday!!

I woke up feeling excited this morning with the realisation it's now only TWO more sleeps until Christmas! 

Isn't this such a wonderful time of year? I think everyone seems that little bit kinder and everything just feels a little more magical.

It's also particularly special because my sister arrived home this week for the holidays. We've always been close, it's just the two of us and we're less than two years apart. I feel so lucky to have my whole family together for Christmas.

This weekend has flown by so far. Yesterday, Chris and I spent the afternoon wrapping all our Christmas gifts and doing a festive movie marathon - Christmas with the Kranks, Home Alone, The Santa Clause and Elf! Unfortunately my Dad's gift (a new pair of Asics Kayano's) hasn't turned up in the post yet - I'm so nervous they won't arrive in time. Come at me on Monday mail man!!

Wrapping all my gifts seriously took an obscenely long time - I think I might be a little OCD when it comes to this. A firm believer in "the devil's in the detail", I spent waaay too long ensuring all the presents had meticulous corners and straightest of straight tape. Even Ollie's has been wrapped to perfection. Why I thought a dog would not only notice, but also appreciate this, I'm not sure.

Chris wrapped his own gifts this year and in about a quarter of the time, somehow managed to wrap some pretty fabulous looking presents. Who knew he was such a natural?

Tomorrow is when all our Christmas festivities start. It's been a family tradition that we have a formal dinner on Christmas Eve - my mom makes the most delicious feast, followed by a pudding she creates each year with my Grandmother (it's a family recipe!) 

To make things a little fun, when they make the pudding she hides olden day coins inside - and if you find some in your piece they're converted to be worth an amount in real life money now. When my sister and I were younger (back in the days of washing your dad's car for pocket money!) we would sit there and eat piece after piece until we were almost ill - we wanted to find coins so we could go shopping at the post Christmas sales!

After this, we usually spend the rest of the evening playing games like Scrabble and listening to carols. On Christmas morning, we all wake up to open our gifts and enjoy a lovely big breakfast. Around midday, Chris and I leave my parents' house and go to his family (I still find it hard leaving my family at Christmas - last year I think I said goodbye to them about 20 times). Then we eat again (yaaay!) at a really beautiful lunch and relax for the afternoon.  

I'm so looking forward to beginning the Christmas festivities tomorrow! 

What will you be doing this Christmas?

P.S  I've had some blogging help from this little guy tonight (I use the term 'help' loosely. Ollie, I'm pretty sure pawing at my keyboard wasn't entirely necessary).

I've also linked this up to Weekend Update.