10 Tips to an instantly slimmer you

 It happens all too often to all of us that our dream date, huge awards ceremony or bitchy cousin’s wedding sneaks up on us before we’ve had a chance to go on a diet/ hire a trainer/ run off to the fat farm for a few weeks. Cursing the universe is not going to help you lose a few in no time at all, but here are a few handy ways that you can at least fake it for your big night:

1) A browner you is a thinner you, so say hello to Self Tan! It instantly contours the body making you look not only slimmer but more toned too. It also won’t give you skin cancer, so that’s a plus. I recommend the St Tropez self tan range for home use, especially the moose because it’s idiot proof to apply.

2) If you are taking a group photo, try not to be the one on the end. You’ll immediately look like you’ve gained ten pounds.

3) Invest in a pair of skin coloured shoes. They will instantly make your legs look longer and thinner.

4) Take a bath in Epsom salts, it helps combat water retention, so you won’t be as bloated.

5) Every girl should own a good pair of Spanx – you know, those control top undergarments you would rather die than be seen in. Yes, those. Those wonderful, slimming, firming ‘you don’t have to worry about holding your stomach in all night’ Spanx! These are the real reason women use the line ‘Let me just go slip into something more comfortable’ once they’ve snagged that little piece of hotness.

6) Long necklaces and dangly earrings also create a slimmer look in a flash. The more vertical visual is what does the trick here.

7) Don’t wear clothes that are baggy, all that does is make you look even bigger and shapeless. DO NOT read this last statement as me giving the okay for lycra tightness everywhere. You know who you are! Well-fitted clothes will hide the bad parts and accentuate the good, making you look more svelte in a moment.

8) Denim is a divine creation that has made life so much easier and more comfortable. Better still, for an instant shape up, wear a darker shade of denim in a boot cut.

9) Just because you were a size four in High school, doesn’t mean you should still be trying to vacuum pack yourself into that size. The only effect this creates is the ‘muffin top’ that is about to explode. Rather wear clothes that fit, you’ll look a lot more like a size four this way. Remember, nobody is looking at the label inside your jeans.

10) Stand up straight! ‘Slouchy Joe’ is not winning any Fabulosity contests, think supermodel stance and you’re well on your way to looking like one. Good posture sheds pounds and adds confidence.

Now go and paint that town red you beautiful, sexy, slimmer looking version of your- already fabulous- self!

Colgate Total Launch

I popped over to the Saxon this morning for the Colgate launch where we were treated to lunch and a seminar on Oral hygiene around the world.


They also announced 2010's Brand ambassadors for Colgate which includes yours truly and my friends Leizel Van Der Westhuizen, Jennifer Su, Tazz Nginda, Ryan Botha (look out for him on my next Guy Candy of the Month) and Annie Malan who was brave enough to lend her mouth for a plaque demonstration, Truth!

QUITTING SMOKING SUCKS! HERE'S WHY I DID IT..

I hate being preachy – I am not the kind of person who thinks that I am any better the those around me, in fact I spend an unnatural amount of time quietly berating myself for all of my shortcomings big and small – but that’s another blog all together.

If you are not thinking of quitting at the moment, rather don’t read on, scroll down to some other blog I wrote and read that rather.

I quit smoking in December, 2008, on the 18^th to be exact, at about 7pm GMT. I will never forget these facts. It was in the OR Tambo International airport lounge – smoking section- waiting for my New York bound flight to board. I will never forget these facts, tears were shed (Gregg’s and mine). What I can tell you is I don’t know how long it has actually been, I no longer count the days or even think about having a smoke (unless I’m drunk, that’s harder, but I expect that will never go away and is, in truth, easier to cope with than you think)

Quitting smoking does suck though. And I still don’t feel any better.  I have attributed this to a fear I have that I was not inhaling properly for 10 years. Leave it to me to not even get my deadly addictions right!

Quitting really sucks, you’re in a bad mood permanently, you don’t want to be social, the only thought you have in your head is how much you feel like having just one and you put on weight. I put on 5kgs myself and these smoke free kilos are damn near impossible to lose.

Not sounding like much of a reason to give up yet is it. It’s because I don’t want to down play how hard it is and if you are trying you should be really proud of yourself! Really proud, hell I’m proud of you!

And there are great side effects too:

1)    You can buy more shoes. Smoking is expensive and instead of acquiring yellow teeth you can acquire some sexy heels (yellow heels if you’re so inclined)

2)    Hitting on boys that don’t smoke is more fun – yes, we’ve all been there – you want a cigarette but he doesn’t smoke and as he’s talking to you, you tune out of what he’s saying and into the ‘should you or shouldn’t you light up’ internal debate.

3)    Your skin DOES look better. I swear, I went from grey to glowing in a week!

4)  Nicotine stains become a thing of the past and you can get that Colgate smile back.

5)    Less wrinkles to worry about around your mouth cause you are no longer sucking on said ciggies all day long.

6)    Oh and the dying of cancer thing (NOT belittling this, but my shallow stupid brain did not use this really good reason as often as the wrinkle thing – Whatever gets you through!)

There are also a few things you can do to make this process a little less sucky, here are some of the ways that I got through:

1)    Quit with a friend. Yes there’s the whole moral support thing, but there's also the whole ‘ I will not cave before you’ competitive thing that really worked for me.

2)    Set a date and cut down before u quit

3)    Don’t use quitting aids – cold turkey baby! Forget the patches and the gum, they just feed the addiction and for crying out loud please do not use those electronic cigarettes. It’s tough enough to quit without looking like a total chop in the process!

4)    Quit when you are going away the change of scenery works wonders

5)    Don’t tell too many people. Or, alternatively, ask people not to ask you how it’s going – its too much pressure and pressure makes you want to smoke. It also means you won’t be reminded that you quit during that ONE moment in the long, painful, smoke-free day that you weren’t thinking about it.

Good luck, stay strong and remember, you’ll look younger, live longer and you won’t be smelly any more.

XO

Some of the comments after I posted yesterday!

Champagne, shopping and Coco Chanel - What a week it's been

It has been a busy week! No wonder I am happy to be at home on a Saturday evening in my slippers, face mask and oversized Beatles tee; glass of wine in hand and updating my beloved little blog. It was a week of functions and late nights, here's me and my louboutins out on the town...

The Coco Avant Chanel Movie Premiere

Wednesday was the Glamour Magazine Coco Avant Chanel Premiere at Rosebank Mall. With copious amounts of sushi, Piper Hiedsick champagne and La Motte wines, Jill Grogor outdid herself as usual. Pnina Venster, Glamour Editor in chief and all round icon looked incredible in vintage YSL and there were gorgeous women with luscious red lips as far as the eye could see.

The movie left me with an overwhelming sense of sadness for the loss that Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel experienced. Empires come at a cost, but Tatou's eyes in the closing shot seem to portray that for  Madamoiselle Chanel, too high a price was paid.

The movie has however made me want to put a few more classic pieces in my wardrobe that are simple and timeless. After all, "Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance."

Shopping at Melrose Arch

Thursday evening was a shoppers dream at the Melrose Arch Piazza and I spied too many beautiful outfits in Tiger of Sweden to count! Thankfully the rain only lasted 20 minutes, but it did ensure that guests stepped away from the bar and into the shops to have a look at this season's latest trends.

Fundudzi sale at the Hyatt

The champagne started flowing early on Friday at Craig Jacobs' Fundudzi sale where I caught Ms Su doing some shopping on her 15 minute break from Summit TV. She bought a gorgeous dress and suit. I didn't do too badly either (two tops, a dress and a trench)

FTV Girls Night Out

Dinner with the girls (and Thulane), hosted by Grant and Anele was loads of fun, especially the impromptu dance show to Beyonce's "all the single ladies" performed by Anele and Thulane - check it out below! 

The food was yummy, the company was great and the prizes were mind blowing - think True Religion jeans, Givenchy sunglasses and gym membership to Planet Fitness. A big thanks to Lorinda Voges and FTV. Can't wait for the next one on October 2nd...

'Ye Old' DVD review - Dazed and Confused

It's the last day of school at a high school in a small town in Texas in 1976. The seniors are hazing the incoming freshmen, and everyone is trying to get stoned, drunk, or laid. It's a time they'd never forget... if only they could remember.

This Cult classic is on my 'must own list' and this week I am not only suggesting you watch it, I'm insisting. If only to see a fat Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey with a handlebar moustache. Other stars include Parker Posey, Jason London, Rory Cochrane, Joey Lauren Adams and Milla Jovovich. Interestingly, Vince Vaughn was originally cast as Benny, but was replaced by Cole Hauser after the director decided that he and Ben Affleck resembled each other too closely. Renee Zellweger actually auditioned for a larger role as one of the senior girls but was given the uncredited non-speaking role of Nesi White. Reportedly one-sixth of the film's budget was spent on acquiring the rights to 1970s pop hits on the soundtrack and the word "man" is said 203 times total in the movie.

With memorable quotes like:

Simone: Now fry like bacon, you little freshman piggies. Fry!

Pink: It’s best to get it all at once. After the first 10 licks your ass gets so numb you don't feel it.

O'Bannion: You are an embarrassment to the game of pool and should be glad I even let you play at my table.

Slater: Didja ever look at a dollar bill, man? There's some spooky shit goin' on there. And it's green too.

Get your munchies ready and let's roll it (the film not the spliff)...

ARISE CAPE TOWN FASHION WEEK

There are so many reasons to love African Fashion International's Arise Cape Town Fashion week, not least of which are the delicious models in the Craig Port show.

Dax martin showcased fabulous swimwear, some with a deliciously naughty S&M feel. Fabiani showcased fabulous men's linen pants for summer and gorgeous three-piece suits complete with 'Avenger' style bowler hats. Blue was the  colour for many designers this year (great for me, it's my favorite) as well as painted toes for the guys (not sure about this one.)

But the shows are only half of it, and the real fun is had at the myriad of after parties, most notably Gavin Rajah's at Nobu where I had a ball with Jennifer Su and Bjorn Steinbach, AFI's official after party at HQ and of course Craig Port's party at the Table Bay Hotel, organized by Jill Grogor and sponsored by GQ and Glamour magazine. Fundudzi designer, Craig Jacobs had his birthday bash at 91 complete with an outstanding midnight fashion show. After all these parties, this fashionista has swopped her heels for Havaianas for a few days. My sincerest apologies feet, but no-one ever said that fashion was easy!

GUY CANDY OF THE MONTH - Bjorn Steinbach

My first 'Guy Candy' shout out goes to a remarkable local actor by the name of Bjorn Steinbach.

The man has the body of a God, the soul of an artist and a heart of gold. 

He's graced the World's screens in Generation Kill and Natalee Holloway, and most recently spent time acting on the set of Clint Eastwood's new film, Invictus. 

'One to watch' would be an understatement here, this man is going places! All of this is the absolute truth girls, I happen to know this one personally.

mmmm, now that I'm thinking, I should auction off his phone number. I could make a killing....

You can also vote for Bjorn for the new face of Police sunglasses at www.faceofpolice.co.za