Hello lovelies,

As you read this I'll be in sunny Malta on a break with my mum. It's the first holiday I've ever had with just my mum actually, usually we're with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins/family friends or I'm with Zee. However, it's not going to be all lazy days and ice-cream I'm thinking of this holiday as a bootcamp!

Bridal Musing's Bootcamp

The past couple of weeks have been filled with junk food and hardly any exercise ~ and I feel horrid for it.

I look back at the photos from my wedding and remember how determined I was to look my best ~ there's nothing like ‘the dress' for motivation is there? I need to get that motivation back and this holiday might just be the kick start I need.

{via 79 Ideas}

Granted, it would be much better if I'd had this motivational health kick before I'd be wearing a bikini/swimsuit. But somehow I find it easier to eat sensibly on holiday than at home. After all, it's too hot for stodgy meals and there's no biscuits lying around or husbands offering you Arabic takeaways! {Grilled halluomi is my weakness.}

As soon as I touch down in Malta I'm determined to eat healthy {not diet} and hopefully get into some good habits for when I return. Luckily my mum's up for a healthy week too, so she won't lead me astray. However, there is the ‘but we're on holiday' attitude that tends to creep in around cocktail/dessert time!

For all you ladies who are on a health kick too…and let's face it, lots of brides are. I have just discovered a fab new blog called Blogilates ~ the tag line is ‘Fitness, Food and Lots of Pilates'. It's very inspirational. The exercise moves look quite hardcore but I love that they're printable and the nutrition advice and recipes are fantastic. Here's a bikini bootcamp workout:

Yikes! Looks hard doesn't it?! Click here for the full instructions. There are lots more workout printables, Youtube video workouts, healthy eating tips and recipes. If you're feeling demotivated, it's a must read!

The Tan

This week will not only consist of healthy eating, gym visits and swimming, I shall also be desperately trying to get some sort of golden glow. If you are a regular reader, you're probably aware that I'm a rather pale person. I tend to go on about it ~ a lot. Sorry!

{via Dust Jacket}

It's not even as if I'm pale and mysterious with lovely porcelain skin. I'm pale but my cheeks seem permanently flushed and I have a few broken capillaries *sad face*. Literally. Oh how I long for even toned, olive skin! C'est la vie. If you can recommend a good colour corrector, I'd love to hear from you. I've tried those green creams to calm down my red cheeks but I always think I look a bit sickly afterwards!

Whenever I have a bit of a tan I feel much less self conscious about my skin tone so keep your fingers crossed for me. Don't worry, I will of course be using a high factor sun-cream! And if I don't get a tan there's always the fake option. {Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel is my favourite as it's nice and light ~ well suited to fair skin.}

Happy, Healthy and Feeling Good

I'm not expecting a quick fix I just want to get motivated so that hopefully this time next week I'll be a little sun-kissed and feeling better about myself. Because, when you get to the heart of it, that's what these Beauty School posts are all about. Not just looking good but feeling good and confident too.

Sorry for waffling on…next week I promise not to talk about me {yawn}. Last week it was my horrific artifical nails story, this week I'm moaning about feeling overweight and pale! Don't fret,  I've got a tutorial from a fabulous MUA {and a very special bridal make up offer!} up my sleeve that I'll be sharing with you soon.

What about you? Do you have a wedding health and fitness routine? Any hints or tips on how to stay motivated would be much appreciated!

Also feel free to join me, I'd love some fitness buddies!!! Why not have a week of healthy eating and exercise yourself? {If you prefer to sweat in the comfort of your own home like me, I highly recommend Pump it Up & Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred} then next week, we can compare notes and cheer each other on over on the Bridal Musings Facebook page.

Elizabeth x