FITSPIRATION MONDAY: Safe Snacking

Consistent exercise and dieting are the key ingredients in the fight towards weight-loss, yet contrary to popular belief, opting for just one of these won't achieve results. I know - I've tried.

Today I'll be talking about snacking, something I think we're all pretty familiar with. How many times a day do we find ourselves sifting through the cupboard/fridge until we can find something sweet or savoury or totalling triple digits on the calorie count to satisfy our snacking hunger? For me, I'm a total chocoholic; particularly at this post-Christmas time of the year where we've a ready abundance of chocolate just waiting to be eaten.

That being said, last week, I completely rebooted the kitchen snacking system; I did an enormous detox throw out of all the junk food sneaking around, and bought only the items I felt would aid in my reaching my goals.

On the Go:

• Almonds (Essential fats and a whole lot of protein for a tiny nut)
• Peaches (Antioxidants - think clear skin)
• Bananas (High in potassium) 
• Berries (Antioxidants, again)
• Blueberries (Superfood)
• Greek yogurt (Calcium, no added sugar, natural bacteria: Mix two table spoons of Greek yogurt with one table spoon of a yummy yogurt, alternatively, use Splenda or Stevia to naturally sweeten the taste)
• Celery (No sugar, full of water to hydrate) 
• Carrots (Make you see in the dark...Just kidding! Improved vision and reduces the risk of cancer)
• Cucumber (Water rich, cure for hangovers, reduces the risk of cancer, aids in digestion)
• Cashews (Low unsaturated fat, low GI, reduce risk of heart disease)
• Dark chocolate square (No added sugar, lower blood pressure, increases brain blood flow)
• Dried apricots, cranberries, apples, mango (with no added sugar)
• Acai berries (antioxidants, amino acids, essential fatty acids)

Light and Easy:

• Banana and chocolate powder Protein Shake (2 minutes)
• Celery and peanut butter (1 minute)
• Avocado, cottage cheese, diced tomato on a rye Cruskit x 2 (4 minutes)
• Tuna on a rye Cruskit x 2 (2 minutes)
• Kale, apple carrot grape juice (5 minutes) - as seen on Shutterbean - life changer
• Coconut water (can buy from a local vendor) 
• Hard boiled egg (3 minutes)
• Berry salad (5 minutes - add greek yogurt and honey on top for a super healthy, delicious snack)
• Protein pancakes (10 minutes) 
• Frozen yogurt covered fruit (freeze overnight for a light and easy morning snack)
• Frozen berry, greek yogurt, banana smoothie (5 minutes)
• Vegetable and cheese omelet (3 minutes)

If you need some more Fitspiration, head over to my Pinterest boards:

Fitspiration

Guilt-Free Foodie

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Luxe

STYLE ICON: Olivia Palermo

Olivia Palermo

"A timely elegance mixed with the contemporary of a New York Chic"

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If I could snap my fingers and have the wardrobe of someone else in an instant, it would be Olivia Palermo. A timely elegance mixed with the contemporary of a New York Chic.

I've been spying on Olivia Palermo's fashion since The City, admiring her impeccable eye for garment harmony, and the way she is able to cleverly uphold a classic look and mixed with modern overlying garments and accessories, making her whole look timeless - whether it is a textured Chanel-Chanel (before Lagerfeld) blazer and short-shorts or trousers (See photos 5 and 7), or a sixties inspired shift-dress with statement heels and jewellery (see photos 2 and 8). 

I love the way she generally pieces monochromatic simplistic garments together, and then jazzes the whole look up with either a textured clutch (see photo 3), or a statement necklace (see photo 8) to give it the whole look some colour and movement. 

Get the Look:

- blazers and other torso lengthening jackets

Chloé - $1295 now 60% off
at $519 at Barney's 

ASOS - AU$69

- short above the knee shorts/skirts OR fitted/skinny trousers (leather, scalloped, white, black, navy, camel)

Topshop Scalloped Hem - $60

Black Alexander Wang from Tuchuzy
$495

Black Helmut Lang leather skinnies from Tuchuzy
$1190

- Statement pieces

Amber Sceats

Zara

Chloe

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Luxe

FRIDAY FAVOURITES

Filipe Oliveira Baptiste - Style Spotted post
on Filipe coming next Tuesday!

Hallie Daily

Valentino

Roses de Chloé - Sweet, sophisticated, scrupulous
Hopefully a post coming on this soon, too!

Fossil Collective "If you go" - My new muse

THURSDAYS THOUGHTS: Radiant Orchid

Cambridge satchel purse
OPI nail lacquer
Nina Ricci waterfall dress
Nine West ballet flats

As we bid 2013 our final goodbyes and officially start to allow the 2014 reality to sink in, Pantone has declared the brand new colour of the year, and while I'm surprised it's not the cobalt blue I'd so adamantly anticipated, this new colour has evoked a whirl wind of elatedness in the fashion industry, and I'm pleased to say that I love it already.

Inspiring confidence, poise and independence, a girlish combination of sweet fuchsia, lavender and puce, the colour is just as gorgeous and unique as the captivatingly beautiful, delicately scented flower. Innocent and pretty, the colour also hints at an underlying sophisticated and intelligent aura, a perfect combination for the wearer.

Make a stunning statement with a radiant orchid coloured purse, nails or shoes to easily femininise any outfit. While the colour is simply beautiful, I urge you not to go overuse the colourfor it will become too overwhelming and it will lose the simplistic charm and beauty about it. You can't have too much of a good thing, can you? 

What are your thoughts on the colour? Yay? Or nay?

Topshop SS14

Radiant Orchid undertones in Versace SS14

Delicate hints in Dior SS14

Aubrey Plaza, Golden Globes in a two-toned, Radiant Orchid
Oscar de la Renta dress and matching Louboutins. 

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Luxe

STYLE SPOTTED: Lela Rose Pre-Fall 2014

Lela Rose Pre-Fall 2014 Campaign

"Timeless Elegance"

Look 18

The first feature to jump to mind is the beautiful, floral printed A-line. The fluid, knee-length skirt adds a flatteringly innocent femininity that contrasts against the contemporary sharply cut mid-drift. The black suede of the triangle toed pumps completes the look with grace and sophistication to follow up with the iconic fifties inspired skirt.

Look 19

This three-quarter length dress caught my eye, reminding me nostalgically of the red lace dresses that Valentino so symbolically created back in the day. The red hue of the dress provides an almost Spanish aura, complimented by the purple-black fabric placed behind it, giving the otherwise summery proclivity of the dress a wintery acceptance. The pattern of the dress accessorises an otherwise plain canvas, making it a statement of it's own without the need for much jewellry or "dressing up".

Look 24

Ma look préférée:

The reason I've chosen this one to be my favourite look is due to the dichotomy of timely simplistic elegance mixed with the contemporary of modern day fashion. I find blazers such an easy, yet visually effective technique to add a sophisticated elegance to any look, particularly when in pair with tailored trousers. 

While sometimes trousers/jeans, blazers and blouses can provide a perception of masculinity, I often find it easy to defuse this through statement accessories and pumps (as seen above). Think Olivia Palermo, Chanel-Chanel and Victoria Beckham. 

Maybe it's because I'm a block colour person or not, I tend to give this particular look some pizzazz through adding a single pop of colour e.g. maybe a red lip, and red pumps instead? A brightly coloured Hermes bag? 

For someone who lacks considerably in the vertical department (i.e. someone who is quite short...i.e. me), tailored trousers, blouses and blazers help to elongate the body, giving a slimmer and longer figure. Furthermore, long, sharply-cut garments (particularly layered) add to hide any curves in unwanted places. 

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Luxe de Rouge