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Whether you’re off to a majestic mountain lake, secluded island beach or a dazzling city halfway around the globe, there are always important pieced to take with you on every trip, from versatile maxi dresses to mini skirts, whimsical print blouses to bold striped tees,strappy sandals to comfy kicks. 

Here's a list of 5 things to know before packing for your next trip.

1. You can never go wrong with a white simple tee

White T-shirts are essential for a solid wardrobe.

Not only can it be a base layer, a suit layer, or a layer on its own, a great white tee transcends season, trend, and time. 

Customize your own organic cotton t-shirt or sweater HERE.

2. Stick to a singular color palette

Pick three or four coordinating colors based on your destination. Headed to an urban jungle?

Try a neutral palette (black, white, navy and grey are no-brainers). For a beach escape, mix bright yellow, lime green or tangerine with white, cream or khaki.

A singular palette lets you mix and match just about everything in your suitcase, which translates to more outfit ideas and less stress.

3. Bring practical, multitasking bags

No need to pack a purse to match every outfit.

Choose a neutral-colored crossbody bag with a removable strap that turns into a chic clutch for evenings (a sleek makeup bag will also do the trick).

Your carry-on tote can double as a beach bag.

4. Downsize your toiletries

Pack travel-size versions of your favorite beauty products, or buy small plastic bottles and fill ‘em up.

Full size versions add weight and take up valuable space.

5. Bring at least one pair of jeans

Jeans are a travel must (especially if temperatures tend to dip in the evening).

They can be dressed up or down, go with just about anything and don’t require frequent washing.

Bring your most versatile, most beloved pair. Denim in any color, ankle booties or schooties and a cute cardie hit that fashionable/functional sweet spot. 

Trends change fast, and it’s not always easy to know how to adapt them for our unique (and beautiful!) body shapes.

If  you have ever wondered how to find clothes that flatter your figure, you've come to the right place.

The body equation: A+B+C= Body Type

A = Body Shape: which includes your body measurements (bust, waist etc) & your height measurement, (petite, average height, tall.)

B = Body Proportions: Torso/Leg ration, Neck length.

C = Body Incidental: Bust size, thicker arms, wide shoulders, bum size, narrow calves, plus a few other features.

Whats your body shape?

Defined by the dictionary: The human body shape is a complex phenomenon with sophisticated detail and function.

The general shape or figure of a person is defined mainly by the molding of skeletal structures, as well as the distribution of muscles and fat. What??? In a nut shell, body shape is the silhouette from your front view, or the outline of your figure.

What are body proportions 

Defined by the dictionary: how lines and shapes divide the space, garment, or outfit into parts. It involves the relationship of one part or space compared to another part or space, compared to the whole garment, and to the body. 

Basically, we are talking about longer or shorter legs, a longer or shorter waist, rise, décolletage and your neck length. This measurement will tell you where to end your hems – tops, skirts, sleeves, trousers. Also where you may want to add verticals to elongate and highlight body parts.

One important note regarding proportions: The eye subconsciously sees clothing lines as lines of your body. So, wearing clothes with lines that are incorrect for your body proportion tends to create blunt-lines...essentially cutting your body at the wrong place.

But when we correctly place those clothing lines and proportions, the lines have a pleasing curve to them, and the eye is drawn to all of our best features.

What are Body incidentals or Deviations 

These are everything else that determines your overall body type. The other bits and pieces of your frame; a bigger bottom, large busts, fuller upper arms, wide shoulders, saddlebags, wide calves, etc.

Some of us will have a shorter torso and longer leg line and be tall. One may be petite, and wear a size 16, but have a small bust.

These factors influence our style decisions, as well as which pieces of clothing look the best on our body. Sound confusing? It's important to understand that this can feel daunting, be patient!

I promise you, once you experiment with these concepts, and test out fabrics and silhouettes, you will get it.

Learn more about choosing the right size when ordering your custom Das Matia shirt or sweater. 

Do you ever forget to take care of yourself?

I know. You’re busy, and finding the time to take proper care of yourself can be hard.

But if you don’t, it won’t be long before you’re battered from exhaustion and operating in a mental fog where it’s hard to care about anything or anyone.

Here a 5 self-care practices for a healthy body, mind and soul:

1. Start your day with something pleasant

Perhaps you start your day with a cup of tea or coffee or a yoga class, or even lying on the couch dot I'm an hour an watching a TV show.

2. Unplug from technology and work

Since we often have our work lives following us everywhere through our phones these days, having strong boundaries around work emails, texts, and calls, or even just Facebook if that is very distracting for you, can really help create more downtime. This week try set a specific time before bed and unwind with a book instead of scrolling through Instagram.

3. Give your body a treat

Try a new face mask, get a manicure or even Pick something from your wardrobe that feels great next to your skin.

4. Be selfish

Do one thing today just because it makes you happy. Have a long bath or shower, sit around in your bathrobe, and read magazines. Just spend an hour alone doing something that nourishes you (reading, your hobby, visiting a museum or gallery, etc.)

5. Ask for help

Big or small, but reach out.

Incorporating a few of these tiny self-care ideas in your day will help keep you in tune. Which one will you try first?

Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat, and may also include abstention from by-products of animals processed for food. 

People become vegetarians for a number of reasons, including health, political, environmental, cultural, aesthetic, and even economic reasons. However, the most frequent reason is based on ethical objections to animal cruelty.

1. Its believed that a vegetarian may be happier than the non-vegetarian counterparts. A recent study shows that a vegan had lower scores on depression tests and mood profiles when compared to meat or fish-eaters. Moreover, there is an element of freshness to most vegetarian foods, especially when it comes to organic produce. So it is bound to cleanse our minds and keep our thoughts positive.
2. A plant-based diet increases the body’s metabolism, causing the body to burn calories up to 16% faster than the body would on a meat-based diet for at least the first 3 hours after meals.
3. Believe or not but there is no health benefit in eating animal fat. As cholesterol comes only from animal foods, vegetarian diets are cholesterol-free. Although cholesterol is an essential component of each human cell, vegetarians do not need to worry about not getting enough cholesterol, because the body can make all the cholesterol it needs from vegan foods. Korean researchers after examining the long-term effects of following a vegetarian diet concluded that body fat and cholesterol levels were lower in vegetarians than omnivores.
4. A well-rounded vegetarian diet includes healthy fats from foods like olive oil, peanut butter, nuts, and seeds. But less than healthy foods like french fries and doughnuts fall into the vegetarian category as well. So even vegetarians need to watch which fats they take in.
5. Did you know: The word vegan is derived from vegetarian. It was first used in 1944 when Elsie Shrigley and Donald Watson thought that being vegetarian included too many animal by-products and did not encompass a completely plant-based diet.

1st of October is World Vegetarianism Day, How will you be celebrating today?

With many smoothies made using milk, yogurt, or whey protein powder it's easy to think that vegan smoothies are hard to make. But by falling back on good fats and proteins, such as avocado and nut milk, you can blend up filling vegan smoothies that taste just as delicious as any other.

Want to puree your way to the perfect dairy-free drink with these creative vegan smoothie recipes.

Spicy Mango Smoothie

Did you know that jalapenos have metobolism boosting benefits?

Ingredients

• Juice from 1/2 freshly-squeezed lime
• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup diced frozen mango
• 1/4 jalapeno, chopped
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 tablespoon flaxseeds
• 2 tablespoons hemp seeds

Spinach and Avocado

Did you know that cucumber lends its cooling flavor to this green vegan smoothie, which packs in 2 cups of antioxidant-rich baby spinach.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 2 big handfuls baby spinach
• 1/2 small cucumber
• 1/2 avocado
• Juice of 1 lemon

Raspberry Rooibos Smoothie

South African Rooibos tea combined with raspberry supplies a potent dose of daily antioxidants. The caffeine-free tea has a light, woody, slightly sweet flavor that accents the fruit beautifully. 

Ingredients

• 2 cups rooibos tea, steeped and chilled
• 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries
• 1 tablespoon flaxseeds
• 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
• 1/2 banana

Zucchini Blueberry Smoothie

Ingredients