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How To Survive New Years Eve


It's a fact few people care to admit, but New Years Eve is one of the most over rated and stress induced dates in the calender. The only way to be able to survive it is with forward planning. Spontaneity collapses on New Year's Eve as most drinking holes and clubs have cottoned on to this 'event' and sell tickets in advance, so here are our options for you! 


Plan ahead and get all your friends to buy tickets for the same place on the night and go together. Or avoid hassles and debates by giving them all tickets to the venue that you want to go to for Christmas. Sneaky yes! 


Glam up and if you're feeling energetic throw a dinner party. 

 
Book a Cottage or go abroad. 


Or you can watch the obligatory reruns on television, make a list of New Years Resolutions, stay up to hear Big Ben and go to bed sober. Wake up fresh as a daisy and ready to  start the New Year as you mean to go on: hitting the sales. 

Macro Monday - 170!

WE ARE BACK BITCHES!

Macro Monday Time!


lol



oh well.



 You go Kris.


lol Kelsey




Lorde retweeted it. Lols. 
 

haha



My kind of Valentine



Cher's tweets give me life.
 


 Taco Bell tweets also do.



 lols

 I like their reasoning.


Me at Uni


Lols. 

Till next week!

Weight Loss tips!




We think everyone should feel good in their body, but sometimes we do need to drop a few pounds, for health, well being, or just to feel better about ourselves and there isn't anything wrong with that!

But there is an issue with wanting to be 'skinny' Generally when people talk about skinny people they are thinking about people with an ectomorphic body type. These people have little fat, little muscle and a delicate bone structure. Ectomorphs are either naturally skinny or it is straightforward for them to get skinny, e.g. Taylor Swift and Eva Mendes respectively. However, there are two other body types. Mesomorphs naturally build muscle and can gain fat quickly, but also lose fat relatively easy. Examples include Anna Kournikova, Janet Jackson and Jessica Biel. Endomorphic people have a body type that means they struggle to control the body fat percentage and have to work really hard at losing weight. Beyonce and Scarlett Johansson are endomorphs. Each of these three body types gains and loses weight with varying levels of ease. When planning to drop lbs remember:
  • The ease or difficulty with which it takes to get slimmer will depend on your body type.
  • What getting slimmer means to you should depend on your body type. If you have an endomorphic body your slim goal should not be Kate Moss, Eva Mendes or Taylor Swift (ectomorphs), but someone with an endomorphic body build.
  • Being realistic means that you will achieve your goals and drop the fat, get rid of the wobbly bits and have a firm, lean body like Scarlett Johansson, Beyonce or Jennifer Lopez. The same goes for the other body types. Are you a mesomorph? Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Aniston are great examples. Determine your body type and find out who your weight loss role model is. You CAN get slim; just remember that it should mean different things to different people.
Healthiness trumps being thin. Therefore, your first and overriding goal should be to maintain or improve health. Your goal to get slimmer should come second. Ensure that all your plans are consistent with this principle.
 
 

HOW TO GET SKINNY TIPS

1. Determine your body type and choose a realistic role model. You can use the body type calculator to help you.

2. Determine and keep track of your body fat percentage. Ensure that you maintain a healthy level of body fat. Too little body fat can be just a dangerous as too much body fat, especially for women and even more so for young women. Ideally you should get your body fat percentage measured professionally. To get a ROUGH idea you can use the body fat calculator– but still get measured!

3. Determine your ideal weight based on your body type.

4. Create a calorie deficit by lowering your caloric intake by 15 – 20% below what you normally need to maintain your weight. You can use the calorie calculator to find out your calorie needs. Steer clear of crash dieting and extremely low calorie intakes to avoid triggering your starvation protection mechanism.

5. Zig-zag calorie intake (calorie rotation), i.e. change your calorie intake every few days. For example, you can have 3 low calorie days followed by 1 higher calorie day. This will keep your body guessing, avoid weight loss plateaus and reduces the likelihood of cheating.

6. Eat 5 – 6 small meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism high and to avoid cheating.




7. Cardiovascular exercise is an absolute requirement. If you want to get slim and toned, and avoid looking flabby, you have to exercise. Exercise will increase the calorie deficit you have created through diet to increase weight loss and also creates a better body. Dieting gets rid of fat, but it does not create a stunning body – exercise does. Exercise will improve muscle tone and increase your metabolism. The boost in metabolism is important, because dieting DECREASES metabolism. Exercise will help counteract that decrease, as well as improve your cardiovascular fitness and general health. Try a weight loss exercise plan based around cardio.

8. To get slim and look great you need to do resistance training. Dieting usually causes loss of muscle mass, which decreases metabolism, as muscle is metabolically active. Therefore, resistance training will help stave off the loss of muscle that usually occurs and increase metabolism. It is muscle that gives the body a healthy, shapely and tight contour. For example, anyone with nice legs also has to have great leg muscles, which gives those legs shape; otherwise they look unhealthy, shapeless and wobbly.



9. Learn how to run. Running is an excellent to get, fit and fabulous. It is a guaranteed way to get slim fast. Try a beginners running program.

10. Add HIIT (high-intensity interval training) to your exercise routine. This is a sure-fire way to blast fat and get skinny. It is a weight loss magic bullet. HIIT involves short bouts of intense exercise separated by short periods of recovery. In all HIIT only lasts about 20 minutes. However, studies suggest it is more effective than a steady-state 40-minute workout. Your metabolism stays elevated for up to 24 hours afterwards. Research also shows that HIIT may burn up to 9x more fat than regular exercise. HIIT works best when you mix it up with traditional cardio. For example, if you exercise 5 days a week, do 2 sessions of HIIT on non-consecutive days.
 
Do you have any tips?
 
Remember, before you start a new nutritional and/ or exercise program clear it with your doctor. If you have any questions about healthy weight loss and body fat percentages your doctor will be happy to help.

 

Fashion Friday: Autumn Hits

So living in the UK you will be feeling the full force of Autumn, the rain and wind, and cold! So lets get our Autumn look on...


Adore Emma's look here classy, and gorgeous. 


Perfect, comfy boots!


Perfect fall style



Perfect floppy hat


Pretty dresses and scarves!


Knitted dresses, always.


Oversized Knits always. 


Plaid and Cable Knits 



The perfect denim shirt.

All perfect for Autumn/Fall

Pack Like A Pro!


Packing has become an art for. Whether going on a short trip or long journey, you don't want to find yourself with 'nothing to wear'. Avoid packing too much and bring things that are interchangeable. For example, with each pair of trousers you should have three tops that work.  It's good to add layered outfits so you can add or take away, as no one can ever really predict the weather. 


Never pack too little. Always bring a jacket, even if you're going to a warm place, you don't want to get stuck in the cold when the sun goes in. 

Avoid bringing too many shoes - easier said than done - but they bulky to pack. Try to plan outfits around two pairs, plus the ones you're travelling in, which should be the ones that are least easy to pack, say your biker boots. Be versatile. Also stuff the toes of heels with tissue paper, scarves or rolled up tights so that they keep their shape in the case. 

 

Accessories are key for the traveller. They are small, and a great way to change and modify  your looks (belts, jewellery,  and scarves all pack well) Dresses are also great travel items as you can roll then into your case, and they are whole look in one. 


 It is always good to have one dressy look, just in case you end up somewhere fancy. Lastly, a great pashmina or shawl is a must have. It is as stylish as it is adaptable, from wrapping round you on a plane, to draping over your shoulders in the evening. 

Do you have any packing tips?

Signs You’re Way Too Old To Be Going Out This Hard


You feel like you’re coated in a permanent lining of dried sweat and whiskey.

The very mention of “shots” makes you want to hire your own personal security detail.

You’ve crossed paths with a particular bouncer with such frequency, you’ve started to wonder, with incredible detail, what his life outside his job is like.

Hangovers have taken on the mantra of the boyfriend/girlfriend who’s around so often, it really doesn’t make sense not to move in.

Every upbeat song making the current radio rounds is somewhat familiar, though you don’t have the slightest clue who all these “going out” songs are by.


You’ve slept on enough random sofas to have penned an review book of them. 

You haven’t bought new clothes in 2 months, but your checking account makes you cringe each time.

After breaking down the numbers, you’ve become so upset with the terrible investment that is drinking alcohol that you need a cocktail this second.

And then subsequently hate-google “AA.”

There is no word to describe the envy you feel for people who “have mornings” and don’t sweat radioactive poison.


Tell everyone you know how much you hate drinking, in the way a third grader with a huge crush on Sarah tells everyone how much he hates Sarah.

You order entire pizzas for yourself, have one bite, burp, and fall asleep.

Your greatest fear is looking at a picture of your liver.

You’ve lost so many dinners to happy hours, you have half a mind to construct a memorial.

Even that really strong-willed angel that floats around your right ear has come to terms with the fact that your car is probably gonna be staying here overnight.


Your blackout resume features both proms and weddings.

You take to shadowing the drunken Aunt/Uncle at weddings, just to see if it’s a suitable career path.

You’ve started to refer to the hardest of your nights as “your ‘nam.”

It’s 2am, you have work in 5 hours, and the zombie that has taken over your body is staring at the wall repeating “drank, drank.” incessantly.

I mean you know it's time to start on the cocoa and early nights when you start finding these relevant!

Fashion Friday: Quirky Style

This weeks fashion friday we are bringing you only the best in quirky style! Would you rock any of these looks? 


Would you rock a rocket bag?



 emoji eyes anyone?



Too much?


Not sure I could pull this off...


 Would you rock this?



Go big or go home. 


Pom Pom shoes anyone?



 I would totally rock these.


OTT Glasses? 

How quirky is your style?

Social Media: Tips and Tricks I have Learnt


Social media can make or break a brand and as a small business owner myself (www.wonderlandclothing.com) I thought I would give out any advice I have come across along the way! So today I thought I’d cobble together a few of my random social media musings into some kind of coherent form for you all… I’m not sure why, but so often people assume I know what I’m doing. OK, I may have some idea (sometimes) but I certainly don’t have all the answers.  

Quite simply, there is no quick or easy way to get more followers and you don’t get anything in this life for free (or without some hard graft!) This is a point made where you can buy ‘likes’ for your business pages! Instagram has culled many (but you can still buy them, but facebook and twitter it's easy peasy) and how many of you have been spammed on Instagram or any social media platform with 'like for likes' or 100 followers in an hour? I mean come on! Trying to ‘get people to follow you’ is the same as trying to force them to like you (in the real life sense, not the social media sense) If they don’t want to, it just ain’t gonna happen. 


Obviously the social media platforms I run are for a business, they don't follow me per say they follow my brand, and why? well ultimately because they like the clothes that we sell, although one tip I have to say is don't spam people constantly. Brands to me (or people) who over post on any social network just make me want to unfollow them immediately. “But how do we get people to know that we exist so they follow us and read our whitty repartee and look at our gorgeous clothing/products in the first place?” Honestly? I don’t know. I can’t tell you how to be interesting and I can’t tell you how to be you…however you know what? The very best person to tell you the answer to this elusive question is…YOU.

So by this point you’re probably about to start throwing things at me whilst demanding your money back, but bear with me…I might not be able to give you a quick or simple solution but I am able to analyse some of the things I’ve done or noticed in and around this media we call social.


 Let people in! At the heart of it, social media is a way for your readers/followers/likers/customers to get to know you. Twitter in particular, breaks down the barriers and allows people to get to know the real person behind the blog/camera/shop front etc. People will follow (or unfollow) you because of that simple fact – because they like (or dislike) YOU. There’s no other trick than that. Be yourself and you’ll attract likeminded people who like you for (dum dum dum) who you really are. Instagram is the same, when people say 'ooh I really like this' then reply thanks, answer questions, be a person! There is NOTHING worse than someone who thinks they are too good to answer people (don't get me wrong, when you have 100k+ on any social network this is clearly hard work, and impossible) but a smaller blogger / shop owner? this where you can really sell yourself. I have had people say, I was thinking of buying this/that/the other but it was when you answered my question / liked my photo / said something nice that made me actually do it. 

Use you icon photos to sell yourself also. Show who you are! Wonderland is a bohemian brand, so if we had a photo of a girl in a bandage dress, it's not representing us at all, same with a blog or just a person! Show of what you are about, it will make a difference! 


The best way I can articulate how I’ve found social media success, is that I’m genuinely interested in the people that follow me and what makes them tick. Despite what you might think, your social media is not about you… it’s about them. These people take time out of their day to read your words, look at your pictures and in order to attract (and keep) them you need to share things that will interest them. What things to they like to see/purchase/read?

I don’t think many people want to sit and home and only read about other people’s accomplishments. Instead of just showing off all the time, use your social media to help others. Become a source and people will follow you because the things you’re posting are genuinely interesting and relevant to them. Which leads me on nicely to my next point…

There is nothing more boring than reading the tweets or facebook updates or instagram posts of someone who only bloody writes about how great they are or just shares all the amazing things that they’ve done. The best ‘social media-ers’ are the people that equally share things that fall into the following three categories:

1. Promoting yourself (linking to your blog posts/sharing personal photos)
2. Promote other people (sharing things you love – i.e. being a source) - be it photos people have taken on instagram (reposting, sharing favourite small brands etc) reposting tweets, or blog posts etc
3. Making real connections (having conversations/replying to your tweets, instagram and facebook comments) 


DON'T SPAM PEOPLE! 

Could you imagine walking up to someone and shouting in their face…
“COME AND LOOK AT THIS THING I JUST DID” or “PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION” or “IF YOU COME DOWN THIS DARK ALLEY WITH ME I’LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING AMAZING FOR JUST $15″
If it would be a weird in real life, people will think it’s weird on twitter. Fact.

Don't beg for follows either, it honestly just comes across as a bit weird. People follow because they want to follow. Would you beg someone to be your friend IRL? no, so don't do it online. Organic, that's the best way. 

Also It’s quite an obvious thing to avoid when you think about it, but why do so many people think it’s OK to use their social media to moan moan moan? Moaning about clients, moaning about the weather, moaning about their doctor’s bill… First impressions count and are often lasting. If you constantly complain on social media, people will assume you are a negative person generally…and no one likes a sourpuss. Consider yourself unfollowed.


Learn from others who do you follow and why do you follow them? Thinking about what it is that you like about their instagram photos, tweets (facebook status, pins etc) can help you figure out the kinds of things your followers might like to see from you. Again, it sounds obvious now, but if you like it other people probably will too!

Another tip is knowing your audience! Things I post on facebook won't necessarily work on instagram. Instagram is obviously photo focused, so we post new arrivals (same on snap chat) and mix in some funny photos along with way. I am much more likely to speak to bloggers and people I may collab with on twitter, so we use it for conversational pieces. Facebook in many ways has had its day, but it still drives a lot of traffic to our site, in this respect I often post more sale items on there. 

Sharing different content on each platform will also encourage the people that are really interested in what I have to say to follow me in both places. WIN!

There is no magic answer or quick one-size-fits-all solution to social media success. However being yourself and helping others as much as you can will build a strong and loyal following. Whether you have 250,000 followers or just 25, it’s that loyalty that really counts.

Do you have any tips?