Who are you #InspiredBy?

When I came across the #InspiredBy eBook on www.flowersdirect.co.uk this week, it got me thinking about the strong, independent women that have inspired me most throughout my life. Of course, family members and friends are always top of the list but with the media playing such a huge part in our lives these days, celebrities and public figures are also incredibly influential.

Sportswear and the right shoes

No matter what exercise you do or sports you like to partake in you can pretty much guarantee that there is a shoe and sportswear out there that has been specifically designed for it.

Not going out. Not staying in.

We all have a favourite time of year, be it autumn when the leaves are dropping or spring when there are daffodils everywhere.

A significant number of people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) with the statistics showing as high as 1 in 3 people struggling through the winter months.Cosying up by the fire in winter with your loved ones or going for a brisk walk in the winter chill and if you’re lucky pausing for a snowball fight and bit of sledging can make all the difference when it comes to the way you’re feeling. The important thing is to be happy it what you’re doing; do the things that make you and your family happy.

How to decide which shoes to take on holiday

Choosing which shoes to pack for a trip abroad is decided by three things; weight, style and location. Be it a hen weekend away in Europe, a trip with your loved one around the world or an activity filled family holiday, the shoes you wear can make or break your poor tired feet or your luggage allowance if you don't choose wisely.

considering safety while travelling

Travel is a big word, one that we we use or atleast partake in every day. Be it travelling to work, to the airport or across continents, travelling is pretty essential to our daily lives as well as satisfying our need to explore.

beauty trends this summer

Beauty trends come and go and some of them can be pain to keep on top of but this summer the trend seems to be all about making beauty easily manageable and that's very apparent in this collection of skincare and makeup beauty trends. All are easy to follow and save time, money or both. A great excuse to get on board with the latest hype!

how to wear joggers

With activewear being worn as a casual and every day attire becoming increasingly popular it's clear that some of these pieces of gym-wear can be really diverse day to day as they make more appearances throughout magazines, social media and as a result of the trend; high street stores.

Jogging bottoms used to be something that would only be worn to workout in (or chill out in) but now thanks to the likes of a handful of trend setting celebs we have opened out eyes to how these comfy bottoms can be suitable for any occasion if they're styled well.

why should you look after your dogs teeth?

Looking after your pooch is a fulltime job and taking care of their teeth is something you need to be aware of. It may seem like an obvious thing to do but so many people consider almost everything but still by-pass doggy dental care and it can cause so many issues for your four-legged best friend.

new in: Dune heeled courts

The mission is to find a pair of gorgeous and classy, comfortable and great quality, suitably high heeled shoes at an affordable price. In steps Dune London, a footwear brand that consistently create beautifully stylish heeled and flat shoes, including these light gold pointed toe courts.

a JD Williams wishlist

Discovering new or unknown brands is part of the fun of online shopping. JD Williams is a store offering everyday style and stand-out pieces from a wide variety of brands that with fit and flatter your figure. Looking at the variety on-trend clothing from their collections and different ways to style them this season; it's easy to find reasons to shop JD Williams womenswear.

haircare tips for coloured hair

Consider the golden rules for caring for your hair, do you know what they are? Or do you assume that you know? Caring for colour-treated hair is much the same but keeping long-lasting colour and well conditioned hair requires a little more thought. From the right amount of times you should wash your hair to using treatments and choosing the best hair dryers uk, consider these haircare top tips for looking after coloured hair.

that velvet trend

Velvet has been lingering through a number of seasons now, establishing itself as a firm trend that looks as though it'll be sticking around for a little longer. What started off as a collection of simple flat velvet or velour jackets and handbags has developed into a crushed velvet overload with mesh panels, velvet inserts on elbows and velvet kneepads on your favourite jean styles. Is it great or just awful and has the velet trend gone too far?

the wedding guest dilemma: what to wear for every dress code

No matter how many weddings you attend every year, it never gets any easier to pick out something to wear. From navigating the dress code to keeping the potential weather in mind, choosing your outfit for a wedding is always a nightmare. This is made worse by the absence of a dress code on the invitation. While the bride might think she’s being free-spirited and breaking free of tradition, all she is really doing is adding to the stress and ensuring that half of her guests feel overdressed with the other half feel underdressed. Navigate the wedding dress code with these helpful hints:

wedding planning: buying a wedding dress

There are many articles of advice offering tips when buying a wedding dress and while they all offer a variety of steps to cover the majority will cover the basics of thinking about you, trying on a variety of styles and shopping around among other bits of solid advice. Starting with the basics allows you to avoid over-complicating the process and over-thinking what you're doing to find your perfect bridal gown because it really doesn't have to be daunting.

trending trainers

Wearing trainers during exercise and nothng else hasn't been the norm for a very long time and lately it seems more and more people are opting to wear workout suitable trainers as a fashion statement instead of their intended purpose.

Whilke the average pair of hi-tops or slip ons are eveywhere and worn day-to-day, seeing high tech running trainers about town or at lunch is a little odd. Rather than limiting your perfectly formed exercise shoes to a workout I see why the appeal of wearing a comfy go-to shoe has won over so many people. It makes sense to jump onboard a comfortable trend while it lasts (before the unusually shaped skyscraper heel trend takes off).

plus size shopping tips for the fashion girl

If you're a fashionista that is constantly searching for fashionable clothing that accentuates your curves you know that sometimes it is not easy to find exactly what it is that you are looking for. Unfortunately, the world of high fashion is often geared to the super skinny leaving the rest of the populus with much fewer options when it comes to shopping.

If you fall outside of the “normal” size standard you are then conveniently thrust into the plus size shopping category.You may be asking, who gets to make up these rules, labels and categories? The answer is not that simple but mostly the designers and the apparel industry controls the guidelines.

Regardless of the world we live in being realistic and pragmatic when it comes to finding the best available options in shopping for plus size fashions doesn’t have to feel like a challenge.

Whether shopping online or at a department store or boutique read on for some tips to scoring fabulous plus size fashion items.

online shopping tips 

keeping your skin hydrated during the winter months

When you don't have the time nor energy to moisturise properly throughout the week, it's time to come up with easy ways to keep your skin hydrated during the winter months.

wedding planning: bridesmaids

So you're planning your wedding and the bridesmaids have already been picked, they know who they are and have a vague idea of the responsibility that has been thrust upon them. You have their dresses and then comes the next fun bit! Now you get to shop for all of their jewellery and accessories, confirm their hair and their makeup and plan your vision for how they will look on the day.

new in: Dr Martens persephone

Dr Martens are one of the most recognisable brands of footwear around. There's no mistaking the yellow stitching and big loop label on the heel of a pair of black classic docs. Even when it comes to their full range of colours, finishes and quirky prints you can always spot a 4, 8 or 10 eyelet Dr Marten pair of boots.