Whittle Your Waist in an Ad-Break!

Yes, you can. The abdominal muscles should be getting a workout throughout your day just by stabilising your hips, when you twist, bend, lift or stretch. You don't need to go spending 30 - 40 minutes specifically doing abdominal exercises. Especially crunching for long periods.

The following moves will target rectus abdominus and your obliques particularly. These run in a cross-hatch pattern down the side of your torso. Shamelessly indicating this in the image to the left. Stop staring, get to work!

Focus on gentle anchoring your belly button back towards your spine - not sucking in like you'll turn blue in the face, just feeling a 'brace' so that you can sense your tummy muscles are switched on. This is your first step - THEN start moving.
Side Step: ensure your full foot steps up to the bench before you extend - this can be done without weights if you prefer - keep your hips aligned beneath your shoulders so they don't tilt to the side.

Side Plank: you can do this on your knees - think about raising your hips to the roof.

Twist: you can use a rolled up towel or elastic strap - only lean back as far as you can keep your abs braced and DO NOT HUNCH YOUR BACK!

Side Step and Lateral Extension

Side Plank

Twist

Australis: Giveaway!

My first ever makeup was a very pale pink lipstick my mum left wrapped on my pillow when I was
10. It was labelled "Australis" and I wore it until it was just a pink speck in the tube! I have loved lipstick every since. Fortunately, just as I am still getting excited over new colours and formulas, Australis are still innovating and they have also labelled their products animal friendly. Some are vegan too.
I am proud and thrilled to celebrate the awesome Velourlips Matte Cream range by giving away four shades.

All you need to do is head to the website and pick your favourite shade. Let me know on Facebook which one you want and first in, best dressed! You MUST Like Australis on Facebook!

I'm also loving the pink/purple colours - incomparable. Not easy to make purple wearable! Loving Gangsta Rap and pale, lilac-hued Lick The Icing.

ghd Pastel Collection - get jealous over Jade!

If you are, like me, a regular gym-goer, yogi, pilates princess or runner, you will know the frustration of frizzy hair post-workout. Or FHPW.

You will also know the deep frustration of never getting your hair to be perfectly straight and smooth in the same way your hairdresser does. But I have discovered the answer! Just in time for my newly tender, blonded locks.

This is the beauty of having a friend who is a fabulous hairdresser. You must, must, must invest in a ghd straightener. They are salon-quality, perfectly and evenly heated ceramic plates and able to create straight and curled looks.

Think of it like cost-per-wear. Not to mention that you won't have to constantly cut off your fried, split ends because they won't be fried!

I have to admit, it is the ghd Pastel Collection that sold me. Lavender (pale purple), Periwinkle (pale blue) or Jade (pale green) are your options ($249). Free delivery from the website - just register!

For stockists, call 1300 443 424 or go to www.ghdhair.com/au
You can find hair inspiration from ghd on their Pinterest and Facebook

Still lightening my stubborn locks but the goal is pastel pinky-purple. Love your tips and advice if you have achieved the pastel colour look. Get over to my Facebook and leave me your comment!

If you're keen to achieve a bright colour, I recommend Fudge Paint Box!

If not pink, how about blue?

Illamasqua Apocalips

Lime Crime No She Didn't

I don't always agree with Rihanna - though I'm all for holidaying in Barbados at the drop of a hat! I got super excited about her blue lipstick outing though and as you know, I'm not one to back away from a bold statement or a challenge.
I went to the expert for guidance on wearing blue lips. Frances is a key makeup artist for Illamasqua.

Illamasqua Disciple

If your after a day time look I say it is really up to the person wearing it! There is no right or wrong way, teaming it up with a blush and eye makeup is personal preference either way Apocolips and Gender will always be one of the boldest colours of the makeup. I love to wear Apocalips myself and I feel the best way I enjoy to wear it is with very bronzed glowing skin and soft eyes. 

The beautiful Jess Anne from Taken By Surprise gives the following tips:
At night time, you can get away with a little more makeup, so pair your blue lipstick with some amber or orange toned eye shadow. These two shades complement each other gorgeously, and don't overpower each other. Try a warm gold eyeshadow applied with your finger tips in a wash over your eyelids and a deeper copper shade blended into your crease. Finish off with black mascara and defined brows.

There is every shade out there from palest blue to darkest navy. My recommendations are Illamasqua Apocalips, Discipline and Gender and Lime Crime does a stunning pale blue (GREAT for pale skin!) called No She Didn't.

http://www.illamasqua.com

http://www.makeupnet.com.au/

Powerfully Pink

Isn't it funny that as a kid, I shunned pink and picked red as a statement colour and yet now, I love every shade from fairyfloss to fuschia? Perhaps it takes confidence to recognise that pink is actually a really strong colour and since it draws attention, you have to own it!
With that said, I'm taking the next step from pink leggings to pink hair. Not all of it! There is bleach involved, after all. Wish me luck. I go with Fudge paint box in Pink Moon in my arsenal.

If pink hair isn't your thing, you'll still be excited by Illamasqua's new homage to the glamour and beauty of pink with the Glamore Collection. Though I'm get to lay my hands on it, I have my eye on that killer shade of pink, Luster. Glissade looks amazing too - a deeper, less candy colour. You can find Illamasqua at Myer.

Illamasqua Luster and Glissade

Do I Need a Program or Can I Go It Alone?

This will depend on a couple of things.

• What are your goals?
• Will you be training in a gym, at home, outdoors or elsewhere?
• Have you been able to get the results you want in the past?
• Are you injured and do you know how to avoid agitating or worsening it?

If you can confidently say you've met your goals before and you know your training ground and how to make the most of it, then I'd suggest you pick up some fitness magazines or browse good fitness sites for ideas and motivation rather than depending on a trainer.

If you end up spending more time looking around your training ground thinking, "What now?" than you do actually working out, get a program from a trainer you have seen in action. You want to know they prescribe workouts that you'd WANT to do!
The more experience you get and the more you understand WHY you're doing particular exercises and for how long, the more prepared you'll be to design your own workouts in the future.

If you want to go it alone, here's my guide to making your own program:

• What are your weaker areas? (ie. many people have a weaker back from sitting and hunching forward)
• What are your time and budget? (this will define how much time your program takes to complete and where you'll exercise)

Prioritise your weaker areas first - and usually, you'll want to work with the bigger muscles down to the smaller ones to make sure you have the most energy to devote to the larger muscles.

SAMPLE PROGRAM

Back Exercises - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Chest Exercises - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Glutes Exercises - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Leg Exercises - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Shoulders - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Abdominals - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Stretches

Dance + Pilates + Yoga

Tracey Mallett is a big influence on my class choreography. I love her barre and pilates workouts - whether 10 minute YouTube options or full DVDs.
She's challenging but just when you are thinking she must be crazy, this isn't POSSIBLE, she introduces a new move and you carry on!
Here is a ten minute option from PopSugar, which offers great fitness content. All you need is a chair that you can hold at hip-height for balance. Choose an even, non-slip surface to work on.