Hey all you fabulous moms! Thank you very much for visiting my site. If it is fabulous you are looking for, you've come to the right place. Well, actually, I have to redirect you to my current and new site as I have recently 'moved house'. The new site (thanks to my very talented husband) happens to be much more accommodating and therefore allowing me more freedom to bring you the absolute best of life as a Fabmom.
Come and have a look at the new place! It's pretty cool! ;-)
visit www.fabmom.co.za
Fabulously yours
Carmen Marks xx
FabMom
Because you can be a mom and fabulous too...
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Eat your way to a longer life!
Ah! The good old days. Remember them? No, I don't mean before the kids came along, and bond payments and school fees and credit cards, blah...I mean back when your body had the perfect size curves, you looked great in almost everything you threw on them and even YOU thought wow when you looked into the mirror. No matter what you ate or how much of it, no one noticed. Lots of things change as we get older and wiser, but the most depressing has got to be the increase in numbers on the bathroom scale. Kudos if you reached 30 and didn't gain a thing.
However, what if I told you, you CAN get back the weight of your youth and that you CAN look and feel fabulous again. Even as a mom in her 30's and beyond. Having a good-looking body is not a destination, but a way of life.
Our nutritional adviser, Fallon Finlaysson, shows us exactly why having a well-balanced diet (No wait, let me rephrase), a well-balanced eating plan rather, is the very thing that will help you reach your dream weight, help you to feel good about yourself again and live a longer, happier, healthier life. If for no one and nothing else, do it for your kids. They need us to be around for a long time still.
Fallon shares the facts on how this is possible, while also motivating you throughout the program. Stop binge dieting and make this program part of your daily routine for sustainable results!
Fact 1.
Weight loss is all about energy.
Energy in Vs. Energy out.
- Consume fewer calories than you burn, after which, your body uses energy stored in fat. That ladies is when you lose weight.
Tip1
Fibre is your best friend.
It's nutrient dense and low in calories. Therefor you feel fuller for longer without the added calories.
Motivation
If you cheat, it's not the end of the world. Start fresh tomorrow, but never give up!
Fact 2.
The amount of calories you need to consume per day is 1500 - 2000.
For WEIGHT LOSS, aim for 1400 - 1700 per day.
Motivation
Rather than getting onto that wretched scale, we all hate so much, get a tape measure and instead measure your upper arms, waist, hips, upper thighs and butt. If you're losing centimeters, those curves are returning! Measure yourself at least once a week. Get onto the scale at least once a month.
Tip 2.
Calories are sneaky!!! Familiarize yourself with those hidden calories even if it means reading the back of every food container and packaging. Example:
1 glass of red wine = 160 calories
latte = 300 calories
cream based salad dressing
shop packaged fruit juice
'health' snack bars
Energy drinks like Powerade, energade etc.
Don't be so easily fooled.
Fact 3.
Your Metabolism slows down as you get older, especially once you reach 40. Fewer calorie consumption can prevent weight gain.
Motivation
Dress to impress! This will boost your confidence, make you feel good about yourself and this, in turn, will spark your determination to reach your goals.
Tip 3.
Say NO to "White" foods! Otherwise known as carbs - white bread, sugar, pasta, flour and potatoes. Make these Enemy nr1 and your slimmer curves will return sooner than you expected.
Fact 4. Break the fast!
Never skip breakfast! You need to 'break the fast' and boost your metabolism within 2 hrs of waking in the morning!
Tip 4.
How to make a tasty and super low calorie vinigrette
-half a cup of apple cider vinigar
1 cup olive oil
quarter cup honey
3 cloves garlic
half a chilli
half an onion
salt & pepper
Blend together and voila! Delicious.
Tip 5.
Water Water Water! 1.5l - 2l water a day keeps the kilos away!
Motivation
Healthy eating together with an active lifestyle will ensure the extra kilos falls and stays away!
However, what if I told you, you CAN get back the weight of your youth and that you CAN look and feel fabulous again. Even as a mom in her 30's and beyond. Having a good-looking body is not a destination, but a way of life.
Our nutritional adviser, Fallon Finlaysson, shows us exactly why having a well-balanced diet (No wait, let me rephrase), a well-balanced eating plan rather, is the very thing that will help you reach your dream weight, help you to feel good about yourself again and live a longer, happier, healthier life. If for no one and nothing else, do it for your kids. They need us to be around for a long time still.
Fallon shares the facts on how this is possible, while also motivating you throughout the program. Stop binge dieting and make this program part of your daily routine for sustainable results!
Fact 1.
Weight loss is all about energy.
Energy in Vs. Energy out.
- Consume fewer calories than you burn, after which, your body uses energy stored in fat. That ladies is when you lose weight.
Tip1
Fibre is your best friend.
It's nutrient dense and low in calories. Therefor you feel fuller for longer without the added calories.
Motivation
If you cheat, it's not the end of the world. Start fresh tomorrow, but never give up!
Fact 2.
The amount of calories you need to consume per day is 1500 - 2000.
For WEIGHT LOSS, aim for 1400 - 1700 per day.
Motivation
Rather than getting onto that wretched scale, we all hate so much, get a tape measure and instead measure your upper arms, waist, hips, upper thighs and butt. If you're losing centimeters, those curves are returning! Measure yourself at least once a week. Get onto the scale at least once a month.
Tip 2.
Calories are sneaky!!! Familiarize yourself with those hidden calories even if it means reading the back of every food container and packaging. Example:
1 glass of red wine = 160 calories
latte = 300 calories
cream based salad dressing
shop packaged fruit juice
'health' snack bars
Energy drinks like Powerade, energade etc.
Don't be so easily fooled.
Fact 3.
Your Metabolism slows down as you get older, especially once you reach 40. Fewer calorie consumption can prevent weight gain.
Motivation
Dress to impress! This will boost your confidence, make you feel good about yourself and this, in turn, will spark your determination to reach your goals.
Tip 3.
Say NO to "White" foods! Otherwise known as carbs - white bread, sugar, pasta, flour and potatoes. Make these Enemy nr1 and your slimmer curves will return sooner than you expected.
Fact 4. Break the fast!
Never skip breakfast! You need to 'break the fast' and boost your metabolism within 2 hrs of waking in the morning!
Tip 4.
How to make a tasty and super low calorie vinigrette
-half a cup of apple cider vinigar
1 cup olive oil
quarter cup honey
3 cloves garlic
half a chilli
half an onion
salt & pepper
Blend together and voila! Delicious.
Tip 5.
Water Water Water! 1.5l - 2l water a day keeps the kilos away!
Motivation
Healthy eating together with an active lifestyle will ensure the extra kilos falls and stays away!
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Season Must-have: Tartan
Here's how I will be rocking the trend this season:
Nothing says "Hello Autumn" like a cute skirt! Match your Tartan printed pencil, mini or midi skirt with a beautiful cami for the last of warm days or a denim shirt to keep the cool autumn breeze at bay. Tartan is actually quite an easy print and looks great with almost anything! Have fun exploring!
...so easy, it even looks fabulous with leopard print!
Accessorize well!
Even just slung around the waist, you could not go wrong with tartan, unless you tried really hard.
Looking back, it's easy to see why my tartan dress was such a big favourite of mine.
Yours in fashion
xoxoFabMom
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
4 Great ideas to get you fab moms ready for your next girls night out!
I know, I know! There's hardly enough time to finish a cup of coffee, and planning a date with your BFF's seems like an impossible task. This is especially true for working moms. By the time you get home at night and caught up with the kids, your husband and cooking, you'd much rather prefer spending any free time you get thereafter, doing absolutely nothing at all! and that's okay, but time spent away from hubby and the kids might actually be just the boost you need to get back onto the domestic bandwagon, feeling more refreshed and a much happier you!
It's vital that we make time to connect with our girlfriends, even in...no, especially in the midst of our chaotic lifestyle as Supermoms. Besides, only girlfriends really understands our nagging concerns about looking and feeling good and only girlfriends truly understand and share our reasoning behind why it's just SO important to get a wardrobe make-over, as in yesterday! Also, it's been said that spending time with your girlfriends, improves your physical and emotional well being. So many times we are left angered and shattered because our better-halves simply don't "get us",when truth be told, they will never really get us the way our girlfriends do. For, 1 - they are not women and 2 - men really are from Mars!
With that cleared up, I hope you are ready to have some serious fun hanging out with your besties. If simply going for a coffee at a bookstore every now and then is more your thing, by all means, go for it. I love a cosy catch-up session at a tiny coffee shop or restaurant, but while preparing this post for all you fabulous moms, I realised just how much more there is to enjoy together as girlfriends. Now all you have to do, is convince hubby or grandma to see to the kids for just a couple of hours while you go out and recharge.
Here's just a few GNO (or girls day out) ideas every fab mom and her girlfriends should try:
1. Active mom
Charity runs happens throughout the year and it's just so much fun! with the added bonus of getting fit and helping others in need. Enter yourself and a group of girls into one of these and put on some silly costume (if permitted). Whether running or walking, prepare yourselves for some serious laughter. If you hate running as much as I do, try cycling, hiking or helping out at a shelter.
2.Creative mom
For the more creative group, there's just so much to do! Join a mosaic class and create fabulous artwork for each other and your homes. If working with glue is not for you, maybe paint is. Join an art class together. If paint doesn't tickle your fancy, try clay and sighn up for pottery. for the bookworms there's literary festivals and literary group meetings. Enjoy exploring your creative skills!
3.Shopaholic mom
4. Fine dining mom
We are so lucky to live in the most beautiful city and country in the world. There seriously are so much to do, to put them all down here will be impossible. Find what works for you and your girls and have fun!
FabMom Tip: Make sure you meet up with the girls at least once every season. If you can more often, great! But always keep the contact.
Girl Power!!
FabMom xoxo
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The timeless Audrey Hepburn look in less than 30 minutes!
FabMoms, can you believe Valentine's Day is just a few hours away! Why am I so excited you may ask, it is after all just another day and besides, celebrating V-day just means spending more money we just don't have, right. Not if I can help it! I've been sitting here, wondering just how I am going to make myself look absolutely fabulous tomorrow and spend the least amount of time and money doing so. I know that as mothers, we don't have that much time at our disposal and even less time to spend on ourselves. So I went and found a look, absolutely gorgeous, costs very little to no money at all and will take you less than 30 minutes to do.
I don't know about you, but I love the classic look. It's both timeless and elegant and with my help, wont need a make-up artist or hairstylist. You can do it all by yourself and fool everyone by thinking you've just spent the day shopping and being pampered ;-)
Remember,we're moms, but we're women first. And a happy woman is a happy wife is a happy mom!
Happy Valentine's Day FabMoms!!! xx
See, it does not have to be difficult and time consuming at all! Next...
· Blow-dried straight hair that has some volume
Gather the top section as if you're going to make a ponytail, but don't. Instead, tuck and roll the section inward into a French twist.
Step 7
Using several large bobby pins, slide them along the inside seams of the twist to secure. Using smaller bobby pins, secure the outside of the French twist seam by tucking them into the hair.
Step 8Smooth out the front if it looks messy then do a spritz of shine spray followed by hairspray.
I don't know about you, but I love the classic look. It's both timeless and elegant and with my help, wont need a make-up artist or hairstylist. You can do it all by yourself and fool everyone by thinking you've just spent the day shopping and being pampered ;-)
Remember,we're moms, but we're women first. And a happy woman is a happy wife is a happy mom!
Happy Valentine's Day FabMoms!!! xx
Get the Audrey Hepburn look in less than 30 minutes:
Smokey Eyes (5 minutes)
See, it does not have to be difficult and time consuming at all! Next...
The perfect Red lips (5 minutes)
Guaranteed to be a show stopper no matter where you plan on going!
The Audrey hairdo! (10 minutes)
Works on:
· Medium to long hair· Blow-dried straight hair that has some volume
Stuff to have handy:
· Sectioning clip (see photo)
· Lots of bobby pins
· Hairspray
· Shine spray
· Sectioning clip (see photo)
· Lots of bobby pins
· Hairspray
· Shine spray
How to:
Step 1
Step 1
Split hair in half, creating a top and a bottom section.
Step 2
Clip the top section out of the way.
Step 3
In a messy, rough way, create a mini-French twist using the bottom section (see inset photo No.2) and pin with bobby pins. Don't worry about what this looks like; it will be covered eventually.
Step 4
Once the bottom is secured, release the top section and create a side part.
Step 5
Tease the crown area of your head to add volume. Spray hairspray underneath that teased area for hold.
Step 6Step 2
Clip the top section out of the way.
Step 3
In a messy, rough way, create a mini-French twist using the bottom section (see inset photo No.2) and pin with bobby pins. Don't worry about what this looks like; it will be covered eventually.
Step 4
Once the bottom is secured, release the top section and create a side part.
Step 5
Tease the crown area of your head to add volume. Spray hairspray underneath that teased area for hold.
Gather the top section as if you're going to make a ponytail, but don't. Instead, tuck and roll the section inward into a French twist.
Step 7
Using several large bobby pins, slide them along the inside seams of the twist to secure. Using smaller bobby pins, secure the outside of the French twist seam by tucking them into the hair.
Step 8Smooth out the front if it looks messy then do a spritz of shine spray followed by hairspray.
The Vintage Vamp Hairdo! ( 10 minutes)
Works
on:
· Medium to long hair
· Unwashed hair
· Medium to long hair
· Unwashed hair
Stuff
to have handy:
· Bobby pins (large and small)
· Hair elastic
· Hairspray
· Shine spray
· Large-barrel curling iron
· Fine-tooth comb
· Bobby pins (large and small)
· Hair elastic
· Hairspray
· Shine spray
· Large-barrel curling iron
· Fine-tooth comb
How
to:
Step 1
Using a large-barrel iron, curl the bang section of your hair forward.
Step 2
Clip the section into place (see inset photo No.1). We'll revisit it later.
Step 3
Pull the rest of the hair into a tight, low, side ponytail. Make sure that it's bump-free.
Step 4
Using the curling iron, curl the whole side ponytail in an upward angle.
Step 5
Once the ponytail is curled up, spray it well with hairspray, then roll it up toward your scalp and secure it with
Step 1
Using a large-barrel iron, curl the bang section of your hair forward.
Step 2
Clip the section into place (see inset photo No.1). We'll revisit it later.
Step 3
Pull the rest of the hair into a tight, low, side ponytail. Make sure that it's bump-free.
Step 4
Using the curling iron, curl the whole side ponytail in an upward angle.
Step 5
Once the ponytail is curled up, spray it well with hairspray, then roll it up toward your scalp and secure it with
bobby
pins. You'll need lots of bobby pins, large and small, to be sure
that the roll stays in place.
Step 6
Once the roll is secured, take the clip out of the front bang area, allowing the big curl to fall.
Step 7
Using a fine-tooth comb, smooth the front section over to the side the roll is on (see inset photo No.2). After combing it a couple of times, it will turn into a nice retro wave. Once that happens, spray with hairspray, then bobby-pin the ends to the roll.
Step 8
Finally, spray all over with hairspray and
Step 6
Once the roll is secured, take the clip out of the front bang area, allowing the big curl to fall.
Step 7
Using a fine-tooth comb, smooth the front section over to the side the roll is on (see inset photo No.2). After combing it a couple of times, it will turn into a nice retro wave. Once that happens, spray with hairspray, then bobby-pin the ends to the roll.
Step 8
Finally, spray all over with hairspray and
give
it a minute to dry.
Yours in fashion
FabMom xx
Monday, February 10, 2014
Great boobs! Just a bra size away.
I realised then, and even more so now that I'm a mother, just how many women are walking around with the wrong bra size, not knowing that they are and as a result are feeling uncomfortable with their bodies and the people around them.Whether we like it or not, our boobs are part of what makes us this special specie - a woman. And we need to treat "them" with care. Almost like we would the hair on our head. You wouldn't just get any products for your hair, don't get just any old bra to support your breasts either.
So with the experience gained and now also being a mom and able to place myself in the same position as my clients back then, I'm hoping to once again make a few of my female readers very happy today.
Here are the facts no one bothers to tell us women:
- Statistically, a whopping 70% of women wear the incorrect bra size. Remember, your dress size does NOT determine your bra size.
- It's important to get yourself professionally measured at any lingerie store. That's the first step to better looking boobs. It's FREE and PAINLESS!
- Remember, a woman's body changes constantly, at least 6 times in a lifetime! Measurements should be done frequently.
- A woman should ideally be measured WITHOUT her bra on. This makes the measurements and bra size more accurate.
- The bra's band should be comfortable under your shoulder blades. If it rides up, the band is too big.
- If your breasts spill out of the bra either on top, from the bottom or the sides, the cup size is too small.
- ALWAYS make sure your bra straps are adjusted properly. pressure on the shoulders and under the arms are an indication that your straps needs adjusting.
- Once the bra is on, lift both your arms in the air, bring them down and move your arms from side to side. Does the bra feel uncomfortable even after you've adjusted it properly? GET RID OF THE BRA!!
-Tip: Always make sure the newly purchased bra is on its most comfortable when tied on the widest band. With time, as it gets worn and washed, your bra will stretch. This enables your bra to last longer as you can then just adjust the band tighter every time!
- Speaking about washing your bra. HAND WASH ONLY!!! this prevents the under wire from bending and poking through the fabric (OUCH!) and it also ensures your bra looks and feels new for longer. Admit it, these things are pricey!!!
- Yet you can't go without them! NO BRA CAN CAUSE SPINAL STRAIN OR MUSCULAR DYSFUNCTION.
- For the bigger bust - good news!!! Playtex’s D to G collection can be found in almost any department store (Edgars, Foschini etc), Woolies' Distraction range goes up to 44E and Milady's has sizes up to 46E. Amazing,right!
Hope these little facts helped you FabMoms, even if, just a little!
For any further questions, I'll be at your disposal ;-)
For any further questions, I'll be at your disposal ;-)
Goodluck perking up!
FabMom xx
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Chunky Junky
We're already well into February! Seriously, where is the time going?! Although us Cape Town folk are lucky to still be soaking up the sun, there is already a slight chill slowly creeping up on us. If you are anything like me, you've already started scavenging the shops for those fab items to keep you warm during the Autumn months ahead. My crush item this year is the over-sized sweater or funky chunkies as I like to call them. Not only are they good at keeping one nice and toasty, but if worn the right way, they can be super chic too! And not just for when you're lounging in front of the TV catching up to your favourite episode of Vampire Diaries, but for work also and just about any other occasion. If you're pulling up your nose right now in confusion, here's a few ideas that might just get you too, hooked on this trend.
Such a great combo! Here, the chunky and my other style crush, the maxi. It's just one of those styles that work so well for both work and play.
The Chunky and Shirt. A relaxed look great for work!
Get out of your comfort zone and pair your chunky with shorts and leggings or high boots. Otherwise, if you prefer playing it safe, just a pair of smart shorts and your chunky will do just fine!
Now that you know what my Must-have item of next season is, I hope you'll go out and find your own or better yet, I hope I've managed to convince you how gorgeous these funky chunkies really are and that you'll give them a go yourself!
Either way...Happy shopping!
Yours in Fashion
xoxo Fashion Butterfly
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