Clash.

camo jacket - Topshop

floral print dress - New Look

white boots - Dr Martens via Office

lipstick - Amorous by MAC

My Top Tips for Healthy Living!

This post is a bit different to my usual fashion and beauty ones but today I thought that I would post about one of my biggest interests which is healthy eating and living. I used to eat a lot of processed food and even though I was never overweight I didn't ever feel that great about myself and I put a lot of this down to my bad food choices. As weird as that may sound it's proven that eating well can release endorphins, thus making you happier. Around January this year I switched to a new healthier lifestyle and I feel a lot better for it - my skin and hair look better, I feel more body confident and I'm much happier. So with the summer approaching, here are my tips for living healthier.

Don't count calories. I have an immense hatred for so called "diet" food, those low calorie ranges that claim to be super healthy. Well just because its low in calories does not mean it's good for you! A lot of the food I eat is high calorie but has amazing health benefits - looking at the calories for a serving of seeds or nuts may be shocking but these are great sources of iron and protein. So don't be put off by calories!

Carbs are your friend! Everyone always talks about how bad carbohydrate is but that's only simple carbs like white bread. Most of these simple carbs are heavily processed so break down very quickly. Complex carbs take longer to break down and release energy over a longer period so keep you fuller and more energetic for longer. If you're still keen to avoid carbs, try eating wholegrains in one or two main meals a day. My favourite wholegrains are millet and brown and black rice - all super tasty with incredible health benefits. Try your local health food shop to find them and more.

Allow yourself a treat. I've never been the sort of person who can have just one, therefore if I start eating something naughty I'll never stop! I used to just not bother treating myself due to this but it just led to me stuffing my face with chocolate once a week and not really enjoying it, leading to a sore stomach and guilt. My tip is to allow yourself a small treat twice a week, but to buy something like a nice cupcake or a small pizza as opposed to something big that will make you more inclined to binge eat. This way you can appreciate your treat but not feel guilty as its only something small.

Exercise but don't overdo it! I try to go to the gym a couple of times a week but I never feel awful if I skip a day. This is because I believe that eating healthy with a few fitness sessions a week works better than JUST exercising but eating whatever you want. Last year I started the gym but got bored due to not achieving any results and I think this was because I still ate badly. So exercise but don't depend on just that - your body needs nutrition as well.

Experiment. A lot of people start to eat healthy but give up quickly as they think all they can eat is salad. They couldn't be more wrong! Cuisines like Japanese and Mediterranean are known for their tasty and flavorsome dishes however a lot of their food is very good for you. I eat loads of sushi and wholemeal pita bread with houmous, both delicious AND nutritious. There's also dozens of varieties of fruit, from berries to bananas to more rare types like dragonfruit. It's all down to experimenting and finding something that doesn't feel like a chore to eat.

Look online for healthy recipes. One of my favourite foods is pizza however the commercial versions are mostly high in fat and very bad for you. I recently went online and was inspired by several websites to make my own version using wholemeal pita, tomato paste and spinach (you can see the photo here). Not only did it taste authentic, it was much healthier and completely guilt free. I recommend sites like Good Food which has hundreds of healthier recipes of all your favourite treats. I recently baked these blueberry muffins and they were great!

Enjoy yourself. Healthy living shouldn't feel like a chore and if it is you're doing it wrong! Don't expect results over night, it takes at least a month to feel healthier but don't let that put you off. Try and get a friend or family member to start as well and make it a joint experience.

My top healthy foods - black rice, millet, wholemeal pita, houmous, broccoli, raspberries, blackberries, apples, pineapple, cucumber maki sushi, grilled/cooked chicken breast, nakd fruit and nut bars, fruit smoothies, frozen natural yogurt

Redken Extreme Shampoo - Review

Since I was about 14 I've been straightening and getting my hair professionally highlighted. As my hair is naturally dark brown and curly, it has taken a lot of processing to get it to the stage it is currently at. As a result of this, my hair is fairly damaged and dry. I've heard a lot of praise for Redken, a brand which started off in salons in the USA and have gradually made their way worldwide. I decided to order the Extreme Shampoo from feelunique.com about a month ago as it claims to "restore the lipid layer of protection and resurface the cuticle to help restore shine while amino acids and protein enter the cuticle for targeted structural repair." The shampoo also uses an "interlock protein network" in order to help strengthen the hair.

The first thing I noticed when I used this product was the smell. It's quite strong but has a very luxurious scent, exactly what you'd expect from a salon brand of shampoo. When I applied it to my hair, it took quite a while to get a decent lather and I actually had to wet my hair even more to get the shampoo to foam. It washed out very easily and didn't leave my hair in a mess which really impressed me as my hair tangles easily in the shower. I followed it up with my usual conditioner. After drying my hair I was pleasantly surprised at how shiny and soft my hair was, I felt like I'd just stepped out of a salon! 

I've been using the shampoo for about a month now and on the whole I really like it. I've noticed that my hair looks less broken and dry and stays clean for longer, which I didn't expect initially. I haven't noticed a huge difference in my hair overall yet but I feel that the more I use the product the better my hair looks. I bought the product for £10.65 online which is quite expensive however it is decent for a luxury brand of such good quality. I would definitely recommend this shampoo to anyone with damaged hair in need of protein and strengthening, however note that it takes a while to achieve significant results.

You can purchase Redken's Extreme Shampoo as well as the rest of the range here or on their official website.

Style Spotlight: Head To Toe White

Hello everyone! I apologize for the lack of posts, I've just gone onto study leave for my A Level exams so I've been absolutely manic trying to meet my photography deadline (this afternoon -gulp!) as well as preparing for my exams. But don't worry, my last exam is tomorrow so regular posting shall be back! So every month I find myself being drawn significantly to one of the major trends of the season. Last month I was obsessed with monochrome but I've taken it a step further now. Oh yes, my favourite trend this month is as Young Jeezy once said "all white everything".

Once a look associated with brides and tennis players, the colour has been dominating the fashion universe with designers from Valentino to Moschino sending models down the runway decked out in top to toe white. Different patterns and textures have been everywhere with Sass & Bide and Emilio Pucci mixing sheer with more traditional fabrics to create an unexpected and intriguing edge. If you associate white with frills and lace, don't worry - designers like Richard Nicholl have given the trend a more laidback twist with structured shapes and mesh panels giving a nod to sports luxe. If you want something completely different, Moschino's mod-esque jackets and big sunglasses gives the decade of the season a new spin by keeping it fresh and minimalistic as opposed to patterned and dated.

The trend can be hard to make wearable for daytime, so my advice is to mix classic styles with laidback sporty accessories. Team a classic white shirt with a structured skirt then add a cap and  pointed toe heels before adding a pop of colour with a neon satchel or clutch.

// structured formal shirt - Topshop // laser cut skirt - Lover // leather satchel - Grafea // high heeled sandals with strap - Zara // organza tee - Topshop // Hanna flatforms - Topshop //

May Wishlist

// Diane Von Furstenberg Andi laser-cut shorts // Rihanna For River Island yellow tied dress // Mulberry Alexa in creamy pink // Wildfox Bel-Air sunglasses // ASOS boyfriend jeans // Office Ozone heels //

The start of a new month means a new host of lust worthy fashion favourites, so it is time for my May wishlist. I haven't done many of these posts but I love to read them and I hope that you do as well! I have been looking for the perfect pair of leather shorts for a while to no avail - they either look too tight or are not a style that appeals to me. This pair is by Diane Von Furstenburg and despite my budget not letting me buy them, I still feel the need to include them. A girl can dream, eh? Even though they are no longer available on the River Island site, I am in love with this yellow t-shirt style dress from Rihanna's collection for the store. The bold colour and tied waist nail two key trends of citrus brights and grunge, while the slightly baggy fit looks comfy and appropriate for during the day. Every girl has a designer bag that they're in love with and mine is Mulberry's Alexa satchel. The bag comes in a host of colours but my favourite is the creamy pink, as I'm a sucker for soft leather and pastels combined. It's big, beautiful and it will be mine. Oh yes. It will be mine (if you didn't get the Wayne's World reference, I'm judging you). I recently spotted the Wildfox Bel-Air sunglasses on another blogger and actually gasped as they are my dream sunnies. Girly, cute, borderline-tacky-because-of-the-size? Amazing. I'm fully dedicated to saving up to buy a pair, they would be a welcome addition to my collection! Boyfriend jeans are everywhere right now as they literally go with everything and add a super laid  back cool to an otherwise smart outfit. I'm personally loving these bad boys from ASOS - the colour is classic and wearable yet the ripped detail stops them from looking like "mom jeans". Finally I've been loving the head-to-toe white trend lately and have been on the search for a pair of knock out shoes for the upcoming summer. Office are great for affordable and stylish shoes so it wasn't surprising that their Ozone heels ticked all the boxes for my dream holiday footwear. The colour is bang on trend and eyecatching and the big chunky heel is right up my street.

London Calling.

white shirt - ASOS

black leather biker jacket - Topshop

black pinafore dress - River Island

studded Arabel cut out boots - Topshop

black bowler bag - Topshop

lips - Rimmel x Kate Moss "107"

Two OOTDs (last week and yesterday!)

jumper - H&M

galaxy leggings - Romwe

black cut out boots - Topshop

lipstick - MAC "Creme Cup"

scarf printed shirt - Zara

denim short dungarees - Monki

wooden wedge sandals - Office