radiance... we all want it.. why not achieve it?

 

 

 

“Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.”–Coco Chanel

   

Taking care of our skin is one of the most indulgent chores a woman must partake in. While it does take more time to be diligent about regular upkeep, this time can be moulded into a luxurious experience whether at home or at a spa.

 

 

 

I can remember as a very young girl having read Teen magazine and making my list of beauty rituals that I looked forward to following. From my weekly manicure, bi-weekly pedicure and weekly facial, I would complete them all in the comfort of my own home. These experiences were a treat that allowed me to feel truly pampered.

 

By choosing to take care of our skin, we are adding life and youth to our years and subtly strengthening an inner self-confidence that says, “I’m most definitely worth it.” And while the benefits take time to show themselves, after decades of following your regimen, when someone mistakes you for a woman half your age, you will realize what others are missing out on and that all of your time and money were well worth it.

 

Here is a list of simple ways to take care of your skin. What you will notice is that most of these ideas can be done at home and are only a matter of making time in your schedule. However, I highly suggest pampering yourself every once and while and booking an appointment at the spa for an hour or so of relaxation.

 

 

 

1. Wash face every night before going to bed.
2. Apply moisturizer and eye cream before turning in.

3. Moisturize entire body after showers and baths.
4. Seasonal facials at a pampering spa
5. Weekly facials at home.
6. Use SPF 30 sunscreen or higher

 

 

 

 

7. Smile, laugh in excess.8. Use tinted moisturizer with SPF protection in lieu of foundation
9. Moisturize neck and chest as often as your face.
10. Enjoy accessorizing – hats and oversized sunglasses.

11. Use richer body lotion for dry seasons (fall & winter)12. Use concealer – a gift to women! (I can’t speak highly enough of Bobbi Brown’s)
13. Wax eyebrows for an instant eye lift.
14. Use a gentle facial scrub a few times a week.
15. Eliminate smoking.
16. Drink in moderation.
17. Enjoy regular exercise.
18. Vaseline is a frugal, versatile beauty product – moisturize lips, cuticles and feet.
19. To zap blemishes, use toothpaste before going to bed.
20. For healthy bronzed skin, schedule an appointment to be airbrushed or receive a spray tan.
21. Drink water – make it your drink of choice to hydrate your skin and flush out your system.
22. Get 6-9 hours of sleep regularly

 

 

 

23. savour a whole body massage.And if there is something that you think should be added to the list, please do share.

 

 

Why hello there March.. You sneaky little devil!!

GOODBYE FEBRUARY.... HELLO MARCH!!!

 

wow... is it just me or is this year already going incredibly fast?? It really seems like time is flying!!

Thank you so much for stopping by on FabFitFun this week. It's been a great week for me and I enjoyed so much getting back to my regular blogging habits, visiting your pages and reading your kind comments. May your weekend be filled with love, tulle and macaroons and don't forget that weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless...

 

Have a lovely weekend!! SEE you Monday!

I am celebrating my 100th blog post (Whaaaaaat!!!) ... PRETTY EXCITING!!! Yes I am too in total shock I couldn't believe it myself either. FabFitFun made it to 100 posts regardless of the little breaks here and there. I mean it just goes to show that you should never ever quit, regardless of how tough it may get sometimes because if you did am sure you wouldn't get anywhere in life.

 

 

THANK YOU TO ALL MY READERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT!!!

 

LOVE READING ALL THE WONDERFUL COMMENTS YOU WRITE!!

 

I know lately I havn't been blogging much... BUT I am back again with lots more information, entertainment and interesting topics to share with you.

 

Oscars 2014

Our host for the oscars

 

 

On Sunday, March 2nd, the Oscars return to crown their favourites on the silver screen, and while I too have my favourites, Jennifer Laurence, it truly is nearly impossible to choose as each actor is given different scripts, paired with different actors and directors, and simply by being nominated deserves to be celebrated.

 

 

 

And while I share my list of ideas on how to celebrate the Oscars this weekend, make no mistake, I will be in my pyjamas, relaxing and luxuriating in the style, the speeches and Ellen DeGeneres’ hosting prowess. But even though I may be in casual attire, it doesn’t mean that a celebration at one’s home can’t occur.

 

 

Here are a few ideas for creating a festive occasion for one, two or many fans of the Academy Awards.

 

 

 

1. Don’t Forget the Red Carpet

Beginning on E! nearly three hours before the awards begin, red carpet arrivals will be analysed and criticized. Save yourself time and tune in one hour before the show goes live. Keep your phone with you, follow hashtags on Twitter such as #Oscars2014 or #redcarpet and you will easily be able to see all of the top dresses as they arrive. And be sure, I will be sharing my favourites next week as well here on the blog.

 

2. Vote!

With 24 different categories, test your film savvy by printing out a ballot prior to the show and see how well you do. If you’re feeling really lucky, create a pool on top categories with your friends – wager money, sweet treats or simply the recognition until next year as the Oscar Aficionado Extraordinaire!

 

 

3. Bring the drinks

Whether you choose a sparkly water, hot chocolate or tea, add something fabulous to toast with to begin the festivities and raise your glass with each time Ellen tells a knock-em dead joke, your actor/actress/film wins an award or you see a dress that leaves you speechless. In other words, have fun with the drink of choice to add a little flavour to the festivities.

 

 

4. Ah, Desserts

Perhaps you want to make something sweet and decadent to fit the occasion or maybe, like me, you’ll want to stop at your favourite patisserie or bakery and pick up an expertly made mini cake with chocolate ganache or almost-too-good-to-eat cupcakes. Whichever you choose, a night of celebration without question needs to be savoured, and a luxurious sweet confection certainly sounds divinely apropos.

 

 

While I must admit, I haven’t seen too many of the films nominated, I already am eager to watch American Hustle, The Invisible Woman, Before Midnight and Frozen (okay, as you may have noticed, my list doesn’t include many of the Best Picture nominees, but that’s just how some years go), and after Sunday evening, I have a feeling there will be a few more added to my list.

 

 

 

 

Be sure to tune in to the 86th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, 8:30 (ET) on ABC with Live Red Carpet coverage beginning at 7pm (ET). Monday Morning in South Africa live from the red carpet on E! and Monday evening on M-net. Please share below your favourite's and which films you recommend watching from this year’s list.

a role model for modern women... Ivanka Trump.

In the society we live in currently, everything seems to be totally obscene , of course you have a select few who you can look up to ... but the ones that are making the headlines are the ONE's we should not want to be, yet I find that young women and men are quite impressionable, They see Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Lindsay Lohan and of course the latest self-destructive Hollywood star - Miley Cirus and they believe that's the way life goes and should be. However I tend to very strongly disagree.

I have mentioned before in a previous blog post that I admire Audrey Hepburn, Kate Middleton, Grace Kelly and Princess Diana, However I must say that I have always liked the power pact Ivanka Trump.

 

 

 

Ivanka Trump is everything a modern women should be, and something to aspire to-- She's classy, sophisticated, elegant and chic. She has a well balanced life of a career and a family , focusing on what make her happy so that she can be the best version of herself and thus elude happiness to those around her.

 

 

 

I think it's important for young women to know that they can have it all, the world is their oyster, they should not be limited to what others tell you!

 

 

 

Educate yourself, do what makes you happy and you can also have a family and keep them happy to, in this modern era you do not need to choose one or the other, you can have It all!

 

 

 

Choose a role model that will make you a better person and empower you and inspire you to be the best that you can be, not someone who isn't able to keep their life together.

BIG HAIR!

Lots of people ask me how I get big hair, and I had a special request from a few people to show you how I do it so here's my secrets.

and I LOVE my big hair, it's a complete obsession. My hairstyle hero at the moment is Victoria HB for always having big, but smooth and gorgeous hair.

 

I have thin, limb, boring hair so it's a daily battle to make it look decent but I've practiced a lot and I think I do a pretty good job! People think making your hair huge is difficult and takes time, but here's my way of getting big hair in the mornings without wasting any time. So here it is...

 

STEP 1. Wash your hair and condition as normal. I use TIGI Headshot hydrating shampoo, but this has been discontinued (sob!) so any moisturising shampoo and conditioner will do. You've got to look after those locks.

STEP 2. Use these products!

 

TIGI Bed Head Superstar Queen for a Day Thickening Spray and TIGI Bed Head Superstar Blowdry Lotion - this two miracle products dramatically make it so your hair miraculously thickens and plumps.

Comb your damp hair and spray on the thickening spray, then apply a bit of the blowdry lotion into the roots, crown and mid-lengths. Again comb through. If you have REALLY thin hair, you can also put a tiny bit of mousse at your roots, but I've never needed it and I don't like product overload.

STEP 3. Dry you hair - if you have a fringe, dry this first, then turn your head upside-down and blast it with the hairdryer until it's completely dry.

STEP 4. Now put in the most stylish rollers known to man. The ones I use are 80mm velcro rollers (usually blue) and I have about 12 of them (I couldnt' fit anymore on my head!). You can get these anywhere.

 

 

 

Put in these huge rollers while your hair is still hot from the hairdryer, starting at the crown, section off a 2 inch bit of hair which is the same width as the roller, roll into your hair and pin in if you need to. Then blast your hair with a hot hairdryer, and put your makeup on as you wait for your hair to cool down.

 

STEP 5: Pull out the rollers and get volumising!

Once you've applied your makeup, take out the rollers. After these steps, your hair might be bouncey and volumous enough for your taste, if so - thanks for joining me on this journey. If you crave bigger hair like me, read on!

 

 

 

STEP 6: Backcombing

 

Next, section off a line of hair under your crown and backcomb it. Backcombing has to be done carefully, and apparently if you do it right, it shouldn't actually damage the hair at all. So pick up this section into the air, and then comb the bottom 2 or 3 inches down against the scalp firmly, in gentle but firm movements about 2 or 3 times. Remember the smaller the section, the bigger your hair will turn out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

happy hair do-ing!!

 

Let fabfitfun know how it turns out by tweeting some pictures to @fabbfitfun :)

Period.

 

Where Is My Period?

Women – at some point in their lives – will have a "period" moment that spawns questions. Why is my flow so heavy? Where is my period? Why am I getting my period twice in one month? Though irregular periods aren’t uncommon for many women, it’s important to understand the reasons they happen and what your body is trying to tell you.   

A normal period

A woman will, on average, get her period for three to seven days once a month (every 30 days or so). After menstruating for several years, women tend to settle into a cycle; some women can even predict down to the hour when their periods will come.

The amount of blood shed during a period varies from woman to woman. Some women routinely have heavier periods (losing up to 12 teaspoons of blood each month) while others may experience a period that's almost non-existent (losing as little as four teaspoons of blood).

An irregular period

If you've been menstruating for a while, your body will get into a period flow, which is why an irregular period is usually defined as any type of bleeding that's abnormal when compared to your last few menstrual cycles. It can include everything from a late period to early bleeding, and scant bleeding to extremely heaving bleeding. If you're not prone to PMS, you can also consider a period irregular if you experience heavy cramping and bloating or headaches.

The causes of irregular periods

Every woman will experience an irregular period from time-to-time, and though, in most cases, they aren't dangerous, it's important to figure out what's causing the irregularity. Here are a few common reasons you may be experiencing an abnormal flow.

Pregnancy

When pregnant, the female body produces different levels of hormones that causes menstruation to stop. In some cases, however, women will experience lighter-than-normal flows or late periods before menstruation ends altogether. If there's a chance you may be pregnant, speak with your doctor.

Stress

Stress is the most common cause of irregular periods. Cortisol, the stress hormone, has a direct impact on how much estrogen and progesterone, two sex hormones, gets produced by the body. If you have too much cortisol in your bloodstream, the time and flow of your cycle could change.

Diet

Another common reason for a late or missing period is the food you eat and, more specifically, the weight you're carrying. If you're eating a diet that's rich in unhealthy carbs or if you've gained weight, your body will produce varying levels of certain hormones, shifting when you ovulate. The same goes for women as they lose weight.

Exercise

Our bodies need energy to menstruate. If you're burning too much of your energy in the gym, there will be nothing left for your body to use during that time of the month.

Birth control pills

It can take several months for your body to get used to the dose of hormones birth control pills deliver.

Drinking too much alcohol

The liver helps regulate a woman's menstrual cycle by metabolizing estrogen and progesterone. Excessive drinking can cause damage to the liver and may interfere with how well it metabolizes both period-normalizing hormones.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

A fairly common complication, this condition causes cysts to form on the ovaries, interfering with regular ovulation. Other symptoms of the condition include hair growth, weight gain, dandruff and infertility. Complications include endometriosis, ovarian cancer and heart disease.

Menopause

As with pregnancy, this time of life happens when hormone levels in the body begin to shift. Irregular periods can start as early as 10 years before menopause sets in (usually when a woman is in her late 40s or early 50s).

Taking medications

If you were recently sick and had to take prescription or over-the-counter medication, your period may show up a day or two late. That's largely because most medications interfere with the way your body produces estrogen and progesterone.

Treating Irregular Periods

Depending on the cause of your irregular period, there may or may not be much you can do about it. Speak to your doctor about the symptoms you've been having and how irregular your periods have been. Your doctor may prescribe a treatment plan that includes hormonal contraceptives or supplements (both of which help regulate menstrual cycles and keep hormone levels balanced), stress-reducing activities, diet changes, and an exercise plan.