This season will be all about classic pieces and neutral shades, but with the addition of Cyan, Aqua & Pink – these 3 are the colours to look out for, just not all at the same time!!

So here goes –

Prints – these are fantastic for summer and will get you into the holiday mood. They will come in a variety of patterns and colours but plaid and stripes will be firm favorites. When the hot weather sets in you can even go for Hawaiian print! These items will be very much ‘this season’ so don’t go spending a fortune on them – your money will be better spend on the items that are more classic pieces.

Print shirts

Find it on the High Street – Topman, River Island, ASOS

The white shirt – an amazingly versatile piece of clothing that can take you from office so easily. Just change your suit trousers for a pair of jeans, loose the tie and you will be sporting a sexy David Beckham Esq. stylish look!

The timeless white shirt

Find it on the High Street – Zara, French Connection, Reiss

The basics – you’ll find ‘classic basics’ everywhere this Spring/Summer in the form of shirts, t-shirts, linen trouser. A great buy – just make sure the fabric quality and cut are spot on and they will last you forever!

Find it on the High Street – Zara, Reiss, French Connection

Oversized trousers – these will be a continuing trend from Autumn/Winter 2012 for both men and women. Wide-leg loose-fit are what you are looking for with this look.

Oversized wide leg trouser

Find it on the High Street – Topman, ASOS, River Island

Unfortunately despite the positive effect on society and the economy many people inside and outside of the call centre industry have a negative perception of the profession, with many people seeing it more as a stop gap rather than a career? How many times have you received a called when you’ve just got back from work and uttered those 4 terrible words “Get a proper job”.

Working in a contact centre is by no means an easy feat, most call centre jobs are highly target driven environments with stress being a major side effect. As with any other job out there who you work with and who you work for is one of the biggest deciders of how much you enjoy your job. How many times have you held a job that may not be the most exciting thing in the world to do but is still enjoyable simply because of the people you work with.

Top tips for working in a contact centre

Continual professional development- Whatever sector you’re in it’s always a good idea to ensure that you are at the forefront of your industry. The knock on effect of this is that your extra training will make you a more valuable member of staff opening up more options for you in your current role as well as others.

Do you have career progression options – Sometimes simply having something to work towards can massively increase your job satisfaction, for example would you enjoy going to the gym as much if you didn’t have the target of losing weight.

Keep up a PMA (Positive mental attitude) – Sometimes the nature of call centre work can be repetitive, that’s why it’s a good idea to ensure your feeling positive. A simple tip for maintain a PMA is whenever your feeling a little low take a few minutes out and jot down everything good in your life, it may be an academic achievement or your children’s names, whatever it takes by the time you’ve written 10 things the silver lining would of returned to your cloud.

Just not happy Try and define what is causing you unhappiness, is it a particular staff member, do you feel like your not getting paid enough or is there another role within the contact centre that you feel will suit you more. From the perspective of the business its much easier to resolve whatever problem a staff member has rather than hire a new member of staff which would incur additional cost. Retraining for another role in the business may be a viable option that keeps everyone happy. Looking for work in a less stressful environment like a telephone answering service may be another good option as you would be mainly answering calls for other businesses which may be less stressful than target driven telesales.

If you simply just hate the job its best to start looking for another one immediately, being this unhappy will only have a negative effect on your performance which in turn could affect your references should you choose to leave. Plus if you looking for a new job it may distract you from your unhappiness therefore making your day to day life more enjoyable.

Mango Smoothie Surprise

Refreshing and silky smooth

SERVINGS: 1
¼ cup mango cut into cubes
¼ cup ripe avocado mashed
½ cup mango juice
¼ cup fat-free vanilla yogurt
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tbsp sugar
6 ice cubes
Combine all the ingredients including the ice cubes and blend until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and serve. If you are serving this smoothie to friends, you could garnish with a slice of mango or strawberry to make it look extra special.

Blueberry Smoothie

Make a delicious breakfast

SERVINGS: 1
1 cup skimmed milk
1 cup frozen unsweetened blueberries
1 tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil
Combine milk and frozen blueberries and blend for 1 minute or until smooth. Pour into a glass, stir in flaxseed oil – serve & enjoy!

Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

Wonderfully creamy

SERVINGS: 1
½ cup skimmed milk
½ cup fat-free plain yogurt
2 tbsp creamy natural unsalted peanut butter
¼ very ripe banana
1 tbsp honey
4 ice cubes
Combine all the ingredients into a blender. Process until smooth and pour into a tall glass and serve.

Vanilla Yogurt and Blueberry Smoothie

Sweet and satisfying

SERVINGS: 1
1 cup skimmed milk
6 oz vanilla yogurt
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 tbsp flaxseed oil
Handful of ice OR 1 cup frozen blueberries
Combine milk, yogurt, and fresh blueberries plus ice OR frozen blueberries into a blender and blend for 1 minute. Pour into a glass, stir in flaxseed oil – serve & enjoy!

Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie

Curb cravings

SERVINGS: 1
½ cup skimmed milk
6 oz vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 cup fresh raspberries
Handful of ice OR 1 cup frozen raspberries
Combine the milk, yogurt, chocolate chips, and fresh raspberries plus ice OR frozen raspberries in a blender and blend for around 1 minute. Pour into a glass and serve. You could even eat this with a spoon and have it as an after dinner dessert.

Peach Smoothie

Delicious and fresh

SERVINGS: 1
1 cup skimmed milk
1 cup frozen unsweetened peaches
2 tsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil
Combine milk and peaches in a blender and blend for around 1 minute. Pour into a glass, stir in flaxseed oil and serve.

Lemon-Orange Citrus Smoothie

Tasty and tropical

SERVINGS: 1
1 cup skimmed milk
6oz lemon yogurt
1 medium orange peeled and sliced into segments
1 tbsp flaxseed oil
Handful of ice
Combine milk, yogurt, orange, and ice in a blender and blend for around 1 minute. Pour into a glass, stir in flaxseed oil – serve & enjoy!

Apple Smoothie

Refreshing snack

SERVINGS: 1
1/2 cup skimmed milk
6oz vanilla yogurt
1 tsp apple pie spice
1 medium apple peeled and roughly chopped
2 tbsp cashew butter
Handful of ice
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend for around 1 minute. Pour into a glass and serve. You could also eat this with a spoon as a healthy alternative to an apple pie!

Pineapple Smoothie

Super refreshing

SERVINGS: 1
1 cup skimmed milk
4 oz tin of pineapple in juice
1 tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil
Handful of ice
Place milk, pineapple in blender, add of ice, and whip for 1 minute. Pour into a glass, stir in flaxseed oil – serve & enjoy!

Strawberry Smoothie

Kick off the Flat Belly Diet Jumpstart with this delightful treat

SERVINGS: 1
1 cup skimmed milk
1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
2 tsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil
Combine skim milk and frozen, unsweetened strawberries in blender and blend for around 1 minute. Pour into a glass, stir in flaxseed oil – serve & enjoy!

Fusion Bonding is a technique whereby hair extensions are attached using a protein glue. The amount of hair applied in each individual section can be altered to suit your hair type specifically as the extensions start off as completely loose strands. It also allows certain areas to be thicker than others. The glue used is pre-heated before creating the bond to the hair, giving them a reliable attachment and loss is minimal.
Approximate pricing – From about £250.
Approximate lifespan – Maximum of 3 months, your hair will grow in this time and the bond will move further down from the roots.

Micro Rings are small silicone lined circular clips. No heat is required using this method which reduces the damaged caused to your hair. Using a special tool, your hair and the extension are both pulled through the micro-ring and then clamped together creating the secure, chemical-free bond. This method can last up to 4 months and can even be maintained by having them moved back up to the root after re-growth.
Approximate pricing – From about £300
Approximate lifespan – The micro rings can be maintained and moved up every 6 weeks. Extensions should be changed every 4-6 month depending on how well you look after them.

Pre-bonds do what they say on the tin really – they are hair extensions pre-bonded into sections ready to be applied using heat. A very simliar method in term of maintenance and lifespan, but can be applied in a shorter time
Approximate pricing – From about £250.
Approximate lifespan – Maximum of 3 months, your hair will grow in this time and the bond will move further down from the roots.

Shrinkies are a similar concept to Micro-rings, only using clear plastic tubes to attach the hair. These are mostly used for short term wear as they only last for around 2 months and this would include a top up after 1 month.
Approximate pricing – From about £300.
Approximate lifespan – 2 months with a top-up after 1 month.

Micro-weft is a mix between weave (that would usually be sewn into braiding) and micro-ring extensions. The technique is very quick – approximately 90 minutes and no heat or glue is used, and has all the advantages of weave, without the disadvantages.
Approximate pricing – From about £400.
Approximate lifespan – The life of the weft (this can be up to a year if you take good care of your extensions), but maintenance/tightening will be needed every 4 weeks.

Clip-ins are obviously the most versatile and cost effective of all types of hair extensions as you can just pop them in and take them out whenever you feel like it. These are great as they open up a whole world of new hair style ideas for women, without the commitment of more permanent extensions.
Approximate pricing – Synthetic hair clip-ins starting from £8. Real hair clip-ins from £20.
Approximate lifespan – As long as you look after them, they can last for years with on and off use. Real hair clip-ins can be straightened and curled with your own hair, you can also wash them allowing them to be used over and over again. Synthetic clip-ins won’t last as long and cannot be used along side styling tools, but can be gently washed in specialist shampoo.

Where Should I Buy my Hair Extensions

The last (and most important) decision to make is where you buy your extensions from. Whether you are buying Clip-ins from a shop

or online, or visiting a salon to get your extensions – you need to know where the hair has come from and make sure it has been ethically sourced.

Most of us have heard the horror stories of women being forced to have their head shaved and never even receiving any payment for the hair that is taken – this is an abuse of human rights and one that you need to be 100% sure that you are not supporting!

What generally happens with ethically sourced hair is one of two things – women offer up their hair for sale or they use a natural shedding system. The way the natural shedding system works is for ‘hair collection boxes’ to be delivered to whole neighbourhoods, every household receives them – the majority of the worlds hair extension stock coming from India and China. One is usually placed in the bedroom and one in the bathroom and each day when the lady/ladies of the house style or brush their hair, the strands that fall naturally from their head are placed in the box. The average woman looses approximately 50 strands per day so you can see how this would quickly build up. The Hair Merchants then collect the boxes once they are full and pay the ladies for the hair. This is a simple way of earning extra money for the household and an ethical way of supplying the demand for hair in the Western world.
This, above all the other decisions there are to make, is by far the most important – so take your time and do your research!

This magical oil really may be the Superman of the oil world. Research has shown that it may help fight off viruses and bacteria, increase immunity, help prevent thyroid disease and heart disease, relieve kidney problems, aid digestion and improve bone strength due to the lauric, capric and caprylic acids it contains. But besides all of that, believe or not it may actually help you lose weight to – yes you heard correct! Scientist believe the reason for this is the MCT’s (or medium chain fatty acids) within the oil don’t circulate the blood stream like other fats but head straight to the liver and are transferred into energy. In turn this increases metabolism and aids weight loss. To get the full benefit of the oil food scientists advise to consume 3 teaspoons of the flavourless coconut oil per day – this could be drizzled over salads or used to cook in, replacing your vegetable oil.

Coconut Oil + Skin + Hair

What is great about this fabulous oil is that it is just as useful in the beauty world too by using it externally. It has been a favourite hair care solution in Indian for many many years, known for its moisturizing and shine-inducing qualities and it can be used to help the healthy growth of hair as well as aiding dandruff relief and the re-growth of damaged hair.

The benefits of coconut oil goes beyond it just being eaten it also works wonderfully as a cleanser and moisturizer for all skin types. Due to its antioxidant and antibacterial properties it has been known to help prevent wrinkles, premature aging, dryness, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.

So as I said ………. SUPER OIL!

Well this is the workout you have been waiting for – it takes just 4 minutes! And it gets better, it is suggested that it is done 2-3 times a week, it doesn’t need to be a daily workout, and best of all you can exercise at home and get brilliant results.

The way it works is to push your body as hard as you possibly can for 20 seconds and then rest for 10 seconds. This is repeated 8 times, making up your 4 minute workout. This method sheds fat twice as fast as an average gym session and improves your aerobic and anaerobic fitness (stamina and strength) more than running at a slow speed for a prolonged period of time. High intensity training even helps your body continue to burn fat after you have finished working out.

The workouts can consist of anything you want really; below we have listed some examples of HIT combitions –

Instructions

Choose one of the combinations below and do the exercises one by one, each exercise should be done for 20 seconds with a 10 second rest between each one.

Exercises with a W next to them can be completed holding weights to make them more challenging. You can just use anything you have around the house, bottles of water would workor some baked beans in bags would work well.

Combination 1

Squats (W)
Pushups
Squats (W)
Chin ups
Pushups
Chin ups
Sprinting on the spot
Sprinting on the spot

Combination 2

Pushups
Squats (W)
Pushups
Squats (W)
Lunges (W)
The ‘Plank’
Lunges
The ‘Plank’

As we said, you can tailor these entirely to suit the goal you are working towards. You can even use the same exercise more than once or just target one specific area like you legs by each interval being squats. Maybe try a few different sequences and see which you prefer, or have 3 different sequences, each one being used once a week making a 3 times a week workout…………..and still only taking up 12 minutes of your week! Please don’t forget to warm up and cool down though, otherwise your High Intensity Training career could be over before it started!

• Ample bust
• Curvy hips
• Slim waist

Oliva’s Top Tips for the Curvy Women

1. 1950’s is your perfect era – think Marylin Monroe, A-line skirts teamed with a fitted top.

2. Any skirt will suit your fabulous figure but a pencil skirt will always be the most flattering. Draw attention to your curves with a peplum detail.

3. Emphasize your shoulders with puff-sleeves or epaulettes on jackets.

4. Bootcut jeans will balance your hips, or alternatively go for a retro vibe with straight-leg with turn-ups. Large pockets on the bum with flatter your shape nicely.

5. High waisted wide-legged tailored trousers look fab on an hourglass figure, accentuating your tiny waist and skimming hips beautifully.

6. A great tip is to make sure your clothes are fitted but not ‘tight’. Consider buying the next size up. This will not only create a classier look but your clothes will look more expensive too.

More from the how to dress for your Shape series

How to dress for your body shape – Pear

How to dress for your body shape – Apple

How to dress for your body shape – Tall

How to dress for your body shape – Petite

How to dress for your body shape – Athletic

• Sporty, strong shape with few curves
• Shoulders and hips are the same width
• Long arms and legs
• Small waist and boobs

Oliva’s Top Tips for women with Athletic figures

1. It is important to be aware of the fabric of the clothes you are buying – go for soft floaty fabrics with feminine patterns so soften your shape. Animal print also works really well for athletic figures.

2. Ruffles are another great way to soften your frame – they work especially well on your top half.

3. A-line skirts with flat waistbands define your waist and add structure to your middle.

4. Avoid plunging necklines, they can make boobs look small – an empire-line will work better.

5. Pull in your waist with a wide belt to create some curves – trench coats are a great choice as they will really define your shape.

6. Floaty dresses with thin straps will instantly add femininity. Short, fitted dresses also work really well and show off your long slender legs perfectly.

7. Draped, waterfall cardigans are great for athletic figures, the offer the opportunity to layer and soften, and will diffuse broad shoulders.

More from the how to dress for your Shape series

How to dress for your body shape – Pear

How to dress for your body shape – Apple

How to dress for your body shape – Tall

How to dress for your body shape – Petite

How to dress for your body shape – Hourglass

Being 5ft 3 inches or smaller

Petite doesn’t just mean shorter than average, it can mean generally small all over – a small frame.

Oliva’s Top Tips for the Petite Woman

1. Less is more when you are petite. Ruffles, frill, pleats and pockets create fuss and distract from the structure of your clothes.

2. Well tailored, fitted clothes work well and showing some leg will make you look taller! Avoid baggy clothes, these will just drown you.

3. When it comes to dress, make sure they are a full block of colour from top to bottom.

4. Stripes and patterns will draw attention to your top half. Team it with a block colour on the bottom and this will elongate your figure fantastically.

5. The British high street has a great selection of Petite ranges now, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for or feel the choices are limited, why not try buying a standard size item and spending a little extra on getting it professionally altered to fit you perfectly.

6. Elongate your frame with columns of colour.

7. Hooped earrings are an ideal accessory – they are delicate, but can be large enough to draw attention to your top half which is what you’re aiming for.

8. Heels are an obvious but essential item – they will add inches! Wedges will offer both height AND comfort.

More from the how to dress for your Shape series

How to dress for your body shape – Pear

How to dress for your body shape – Apple

How to dress for your body shape – Tall

How to dress for your body shape – Athletic

How to dress for your body shape – Hourglass

• Being 5ft 10 inches (1 meter 78cm) or more. This is 6 inches taller that the average women’s height in the UK.
• The Italians have a saying ‘altezza metà bellezza’ – roughly translated ‘if you’re tall, you’re already halfway to being beautiful’ so count yourself lucky girls!

Oliva’s Top Tips for Tall Women

1. Horizontal lines can be your worst nightmare if you are short or round, but for tall girls, they are a dream as they will diffuse your height. You can do this with contrasting colours and tones.

2. You may find dresses are often too short – use this to your advantage and wear them as tunics with leggings or jeans.

3. Keep thing feminine with flared, A-line or peplum skirts – all these styles work great with your shape.

4. With fitted or shift dresses, try to choose styles with blocks of pattern or solid colour in various portions of the dress – all over colour from top to bottom will be too severe.

5. Big bold patterns work best for you; smaller ones can get a bit lost. Also try nipping in the waist with a slim belt, this helps to break up the pattern and flatter your curves.

6. Simple structured dress work wonderfully with your figure, showing off your best bits and complementing your height.

7. Maxi skirts and dresses will really emphasize your height and show that your proud of your height. You may have trouble finding dresses long enough for you, so either get them made to measure or a seamstress could add to the length of existing pieces.

8. When looking for knitwear long layering looks fab – but always a simple structure with a fine knit.

9. Flatter your proportions with chunky statement jewellery and large bags

10. And finally – don’t be afraid to wear heels! They can boost your confidence, make you feel sexy and ooze confidence.

More from the how to dress for your Shape series

How to dress for your body shape – Pear

How to dress for your body shape – Apple

How to dress for your body shape – Petite

How to dress for your body shape – Athletic

How to dress for your body shape – Hourglass