Happy new year peeps

Here we are then, you and me and the end of a wonderful, turbulent year. It's always tempting to make a thousand resolutions, especially after a few bottles of something grape-ish, or to loudly proclaim resolutions are for quitters. But they can be completely life-changing when done in the right way.

Yet life doesn't change overnight. It's unlikely anyone will quit smoking, drinking jagerbombs or shopping past their credit limit tomorrow, so remember to take things slow. Baby steps work. Focus on doing things that really make you smile so you're outlook for 2010 isn't to cut out the nasties, but to make every day incredible. Forget about your weight, please I beg of you, forget all about it. Fill your life with healthy habits - that you LOVE - and your body will be fit and thriving at the weight it's meant to be. It's called having your cake and eating it too, something I'm a big fan and advocate of.

Make each promise specific - the clearer you are about what you want, the more likely you are to get it. Also set a time, this obviously makes you more accountable but will also help you stay focussed. Join a volleyball team by March, go away for a meditation weekend by February or sort out your wardrobe for an op-shop drop next weekend.

Finally, don't be a victim. You are capable of doing absolutely anything you can dream of, so blaming other people, your job or long-held habits on living without those dreams is a waste of time. After all, 2010 is the year of the tiger... a year for the courageous and passionate. Are you in?

Nature's pick-me-up

I'm feeling a bit sluggish today. The weather's terrible so I can't go for a swim or jog and my diet, although not disastrous, has been a bit on the naughty side of nice. So as of this morning I'm doing the lemon juice and tepid water thing, just to see if it makes a difference. I have a friend who replaced all tea and coffee with lemon water and swears by it, so here goes. And as usual, I've researched a few benefits. I was surprised with what I found...

* flushes out toxins from body = more energy, glowing skin and eyes
* lemons help alkalize your body (better than an acidic body which leads to health problems)
* it reduces bad breath, nausea, constipation and aids digestion
* the vitamin C content protects against infections and allergies
* potassium benefits brain and nerve functions
* calcium for strong, lasting bones and teeth
* magnesium assists with asthma and heartburn

Don't microwave it to make it juicier, you'll only zap out all the nutrients and make yourself sick. Instead, roll room-temp lemons on the kitchen counter with your hand to help get the juice flowing.
Leftover halves are a brilliant cleaning tool: shake some bi-carb inside the lemon half and use to clean the shower, tiles, bath and sink.

Food, freakishly glorious food

Merry Christmas readers, fans and amigos. As I slurp on a mango and dream of lunch, I'm happy to report Christmas Day was as divine as we hoped! We started the day with toasted, buttered panettone topped with cherries, peaches, apricots, blueberries, strawberries and cinnamon and a glass of Veuve Clicquot. (Yes, yes, we had a glass of deliriously delicious champers in the morning - first drink in almost 5 months. Straight to our topsy little heads!)

Lunch was poultry and piggy heaven. The stuffing I mentioned the other day was from Vogue Entertaining & Travel, Dec/Jan 2006. It was chunky and rustic and fantastically delicious. Here tis our version: Take 200g cooked chestnuts and simmer in 300ml of verjuice for ten minutes. Put in a heatproof bowl and set aside. In the same pot, melt 20g butter and cook two peeled, cored, roughly chopped apples until brown, add to chestnuts. In the same pot melt a little butter and oil and add one brown onion, roughly diced. Cook on low until translucent, add 200g smoked speck or pancetta, diced, cook for five minutes, add two squashed garlic cloves, leaves from a few sprigs of thyme, the meat from two or three pork sausages - cook until they're not so pink. Throw all ingredients into the same bowl as the chestnuts and apples, add about 150g sourdough breadcrumbs (roughly or finely chopped), fresh parsley and seasoning. Mix well, place in fridge overnight.

Hubby BBQ'd the birdie, a 4.5kg organic turkey, stuffed full, legs tied together for three hours - first hour at 220C, then rest at 200C. He pulled it out to rest when we sat for entrees (prawn, poached snapper, endive and watercress salad with lemon pepper aioli), so by the time he got carving it was perfect. He basted it with its own juices every half hour (and put a cup of water in the pan to start, I've never been more proud). I served with the pan juices (I can never be bothered making gravy, and this tasted amazing).

We had a salad of yellow, orange, red and dark red cherry tomatoes, halved, mixed with parsley, local kalamatas and marinated fetta. For the beans, I whizzed up some butter, oil, sambal oelek, garlic, basil, lemon rind and lemon juice in a mini processor and dolloped on top of the blanched stringies. Yum! We also had mashed spuds, natch, and a mouth-watering bottle of Cassegrain Fromenteau - 2006 Reserve Chardonnay.

To finish, a large pot of Earl Grey tea and Dad's candied orange, ginger and white chocolate cheesecake. Oh. Holy. Night. What a leisurely, gastronomically exquisite day. All with happy families (sorry we missed you bro and girls)... and perlenty of leftovers.

All I need now is a mumu and a good book...

Turkeys roasting on an open fire

I'm under pressure this year. Mum and Dad are coming to our place for Chrissy lunch and the outlaws are also here, so there's a few good cooks around the table waiting to see if I - self-proclaimed foodie frankie - can come up with the tasty goods. Hubby has offered to stuff and BBQ the turkey and although that makes me happy, I'm seriously worried about turkey burn-out.

But it's not my first time handling an oversized bird, so I have the three tools a good turkey cooker needs: foil, butter and a baster. And I'm not afraid to make my hubby use them. But the BIG decision of the week has been... what to stuff with? Rice? Bread? Three spatchcocks and a sage leaf? Here's my list of nominations for best stuffing in a BBQ birdie...

* Wild rice, hazelnuts and mushrooms
Cook wild rice and brown rice together (the wild ones might have to go in a bit earlier). While they're boiling, saute some mushrooms in butter and oil for a couple of minutes, remove from heat, season and stir in a handful of parsley and thyme. Add some spring onion, leeks, pinenuts and cooked bacon if you fancy. Let the rice cool, mix together with mushies and other ingredients, put in fridge overnight.

* Sourdough, speck and chestnuts
The chestnuts need to be cooked - buy them already cooked or do yourself. Saute the nuts in a bit of verjuice, reduce and add smoked speck, pork sausage, prunes, garlic and onion. Remove from heat, add a heap of parsley and sourdough bread, cubed. Drizzle with oil, place in bird.

* Pistachio, sage and cranberry
An old fave, this one's as easy as mixing cubed bread with a lightly beaten egg, chopped pistachios, cranberries, roasted garlic (pop a few whole cloves in the oven for 20 minutes), sage and seasoning. Yum.

And the winner goes to... Speck n chesties! Will let you know how we go. Can't wait.
Oh and amigos, if you're doing the turkey for the first time, my only advice is this: baste every half hour (leave the foil on until the last 30 minutes) and make a damn fine gravy lest it all go to jingle bell hell.

Bludge me happy

It's a few days before Christmas and everyone I know is either bludging or frantically shopping, partying and working like mad. As I'm a bit clever, I'm assuming if you're scrolling through my fabulous bloggie you're in holiday mode and not breathing into a paper bag while queuing in the city.

So I thought I'd share my fave health blogs and sites on the interwebs so you can improve the quality of your bludge time..

* Info about toxins, chemicals, natural beauty, organic food, environmental stuff is on the Environmental Working Group's site, one of my absolute faves.
* Care2 satisfies most of my cravings... be it food, spirituality, great causes, beauty design.
* When I need some inspiration about living closer to the ground, especially nutrition and therapies, I head to Natural Health, a fab Aussie site.
* One of the few amazing newsletters I receive is from Daily Om
* I love this Aussie online shop... not such a glamorous name, but everything at Non-Toxic Life is good for you.
* Here's an interesting blog on exploring happiness... The Happiness Project
* When I want to sink my teeth into something geeky, I go for the science section of The Guardian paper, or NYTimes and Newsweek.

Enjoy my merry peeps!

The sweetest thing

I've been a foodie for a long time but I must admit, I was a sugar ignoramus. Now that I've seen the error of my sweet, sweet ways and cut back big time, my hawk eye spots it on most ingredient lists. The local shops here at the beach don't have my usual chocolate (Green & Black's Organic Dark), so I thought I'd be safe with a conventional bar. Bah-bowm. You'd expect any dark chocolate bar to have cocoa as the first ingredient but not this baby: sugar first, then cocoa and then a hit of some hideous processed vegetable oil and then... it was back on the shelf.

Once you sharpen your peepers, you'll start seeing sugar (white, raw, brown, caster, honey, maple syrup, malt, glucose, fructose, sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup) in everything from stocks to sauces, bread to soup. Avoid it, you don't need it. And if you're craving sugar, it's because you're eating it. Believe me, once you've cut most of it out, you won't want it. Food tastes good again, energy is better than ever and even your skin will thank you. Need some scary facts to get going? Ok, here goes...

* puts you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
* it can clog up your arteries, putting you at risk of heart disease and stroke.
* your body releases insulin to cope with sugar, which promotes the storage of fat. Nuff said.
* the immune system gets horribly sluggish, leading to anything from a cold to disease.
* messes with your mind... can aggravate mood and anxiety disorders.
* reduces good cholesterol and pumps up the bad cholesterol.
* tooth decay anyone?
* it interferes with the absorption of calcium and magnesium.
* skin sags because sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function.
* there's also headaches, kidney stones, eczema, gallstones, appendicitis, haemorrhoids, varicose veins, food allergies...

And don't even think about choosing sweeteners. Just because your body doesn't recognize them as sugar doesn't mean they don't cause complete anarchy on the inside.
If the cravings are driving you nuts, up your intake of wholemeal foods and proteins. Or eat a handful of nature's best: berries. You'll be right.

Golden oldies

I've had quite an active week away, and this morning when we were out for a long bushwalk I looked at my healthier than anything in-laws and wondered, not for the first time, what their secret is. In their 70's, they have shiny, healthy skin, glowing eyes, strong bodies and a quicker mind than me when I'm not careful. Plus they've been married for 50 years and I for 5. After knowing them almost 10 years I've whittled down their amazing lifestyle to five things...

* they have a brilliant sense of humour; there's many a giggle, joke, wink and belly laugh, the mood is never serious for too long. They've lived (and fought) through war, lost siblings, endured terrible things and yet they never wallow or moan about their lot.
* they like new things. Some Dutchies need new things to such an extent it takes over their lives. But my Dutch outlaws like keeping up - not obsessing - with the latest ideas in any area - food, interior, lifestyle, art, fashion - as it bring fresh chapters and ideas to their lives.
* good food is a lifestyle. They never eat fatty foods, avoid too much alcohol or sugar and take a multi-vitamin if they need one. They'll also try (just about) anything once, and I love that attitude!
* every day includes a walk. And I don't mean a wander around the local lake (where I took the pic above). They hike up hills and trek through bush for two hours at a time, preferably.
* they still earn pocket money. Mum paints and shows her art in exhibitions while Dad puts up a shed in half the time a man half his age could... (I mean that literally, you should see his hands).

So it's been a beautiful week. Lots of adventures with hubby and keeping up with an inspiring couple over twice my age.

Boost your bod

If I go for a couple if days without fresh fruit and vegies I get a bit weird. Ok, weirder. The human body can clearly survive on not a whole lot, but once you've felt a healthy, light body and clear mind, it's hard to eat five cheese pizzas for too long (eww, if at all). If you have a varied diet, you're probably getting your vitamins and minerals, but here's a quick list to keep in mind when shopping...

Minerals
Calcium for strong bones and teeth. Eat cheddar, natural yoghurt, organic milk and broccoli.
Iron for the manufacture of red blood cells. Try meat, seafood, red kidney beans and dried apricots.
Zinc to maintain a health immune system. Go for prawns, oysters and good quality wholemeal bread.
Potassium promotes muscle activity and nerve function. Good sources include bananas and avocados.
Magnesium for a healthy nervous system. Eat organic, raw nuts, steamed spinach and wholemeal bread.

Vitamins
A to strengthen immune system. Get into dairy and yellow/orange foods (they contain beta carotene, which turns into vitamin A in the body).
B1 converts carbs into energy. Try raisins, eggs and bran.
B2 restores health to the eyes, skin and nervous system. Sources include cooked rice, mushrooms and eggs.
B6 allows the body to use and store energy from food. Eat chicken, turkey, cod and peanuts.
B12 prevents anaemia, maintains a healthy nervous system and relieves irritability. Lamb, salmon, cheddar and eggs will do the trick.
C boosts resistance to infection and free radicals. Go for oranges, red capsicum and steamed broccoli.
D is vital for strong bones and for absorption of calcium. Chomp on a few mackerels, salmon fillets and eggs.
E protects from free radical damage. Keep sunflower seeds and almonds handy for salads.
Folate, not just for pregnant women but also for breaking down protein in the body. Carve up some steamed broccoli, peas and chickpeas.

Source: Women's Health for Life, Dr Sarah Jarvis.

Sand between my toes

I'm on holidays with my hubby and the outlaws (and the crazy staffie who never wants to leave), but nope, not here to brag. Not really. Though it's hard not to when there's 32 private steps onto a gorgeous beach where dolphins play at dusk. Sorry, I didn't mean to put that bit in. I mean, the water's glorious and all that, but... where was I?

Oh yes, that's right. Something interesting about wellness for those gorgeous peeps who follow my blog. Well, I tried jogging on the beach last night but honestly was so puffed after seven metres that I stopped. Ok, it was three. I walked the rest and back at a leisurely-ish pace and didn't feel any more tired than a normal walk, but I wondered if walking on the shore is better for legs than strolling on grass.

Well I'm glad I asked, because as it turns out, it is. Navigating sand with your feet works muscles and tendons harder, and get this, walking in sand requires about 2.5 times more energy than walking on the ground while jogging in sand uses about 1.5 times more energy than jogging elsewhere. You'll also burn more calories, about 50% more of 'em. Lovely. And then there's the view... dolphins, waves, sunsets and all. Just don't work it too hard or you might suffer from shin splints. I know I won't...

Closer to the ground

I've come across a new saying that I adore, and that's 'getting closer to the ground'. Don't you love? It doesn't mean napping on the sheepskin at every chance (what's the time now?), just getting back to nature. Doing and buying and living as close to the source as you can. It's about filling your house with natural materials, eating hormone, chemical and pesticide-free food, walking barefoot on the grass and limiting waste.

One category I struggle with when it comes to natural living is beauty. As a beauty writer I come across all sorts of products and I enjoy trying them all, the cheap the colourful and the luxurious. I understand that most of what goes on your skin goes into your system, that certain chemicals are nasty and aging and should be banned (and believe me I do draw a line when it comes to formaldehyde and friends) but there are a trillion ingredients to research and understand and look for... and I suppose my lazy side just says 'meh, pass the caviar creme...'

Then a friend introduced me to Dr Hauschka, a brand that goes back to 1967 and has kept its roots strongly based in nature. So I had a facial and was seriously impressed. In fact, I wouldn't mind at all if they wanted to sponsor me for life. Ok just kidding, (I'm not really) here are the fast facts:

* each product is made from medicinal plants grown by biodynamic methods
* they hand pick from over 150 of these plants... at sunrise. Apparently that's when the plant's life forces are most concentrated
* everything is free from synthetic fragrances, preservatives and colourings
* dr h was one of the first skin care companies to list ingredients
* they look past skin problems to a holistic space where essential oils play a big role and skin is healed from the inside-out, never covered up
* they embrace aging as a part of our evolution, not something to be feared
* each potion smells sublime, feels like heaven and makes skin glow

Future self, love sounds

I don't think I'm particularly wise, but I like to think I have a wiser self. When I get caught up in bills and a packed diary and an unraveling wardrobe and petty things that really shouldn't annoy me but do to the core... I sit back and wonder what advice I would give myself if I were ten years older. Usually the dialogue remains the same, but it's a good reminder of what's important...

* forgive quickly and tell people you love them
* book yourself in for a massage, you totally deserve it
* the TV isn't doing you good every night, light a candle or seven and get lost in an inspiring book
* money never, ever brought anyone happiness, get creative with what you've got
* your wellbeing is more important than anything else... sleep in if you need it, meditate every day and laugh like crazy
* buy yourself flowers every week
* trust your instinct; it's always, always bang on
* call your mother

A day on the green

Last minute invites to spend an afternoon with friends usually turn out to be the best... and yesterday was no exception. Birthday girl D invited a few of us for lawn bowls at her local club. And I can't tell you how much fun it was. Lawn bowls gets you moving, but none of that vigorous sporty nuisance (it was Sunday). It keeps you guessing, how much speed, what angle, what's the flippin' wind going to do next? Catching up with good friends is fun anytime, any place, but with a gentle competitive spirit thrown in, things are always more interesting. Add a full blue sky, gentle breeze, cheap beverages, world-famous pastry shop around the corner and the afternoon was perfect. Perfectly divine.

And I won... sort of.

Fly me to the moon

Did you hear me howling? Last night at 5.30 pm the moon was full. I spied it at about 11pm and it was so bright and such a beauty! As it was in Gemini, it can mean good things homeboys and girls... lovely, brilliant things...
* Gemini (apart from being mad, which you'll understand if you are a Gemini, like moi, or know a few) is the sign of communication, changeability and short trips. If you haven't already booked a mini vacay, do it now.
* Under Mercury's influence, there may be a bit of impulsive thinking and anxiety. Don't let your nerves get to you, just blame the full moon, sing a few omm's and you'll be right. And use impulsive thinking to your advantage, not the other way around.
* Anticipate sudden and surprising events; big, dramatic, fabulous things are afoot. Expect change and innovation in your world... be as flexible and adaptable as you can and you'll benefit abundantly.
* Sometimes change makes us forge our own path, so if you feel like the Blahniks have been pulled from under you, dust yourself off and look for ways to make your stamp on what you do and say.
* Have a party or look for ways to meet new peeps... your communication skills are better than ever. And if you meet a pair of crazy twins, run!

Rise, graze & shine

They say in order to get and stay fit you need to find an exercise you love. So straight-forward and true, yet many people still slog it out in gym classes they hate only to give it all up three months later. I love jogging and walking (having a dog is beyond helpful) and adore yoga and shopping.

Breakfast is the same. If you're not eating in the morning, you clearly haven't found something to look forward to. So here's a few to try:

Rhubarb, bircher muesli and sheeps milk yogurt
Grab some rhubarb from the markets on the weekend, chop it up (any size you want), add enough water to almost cover, two heaped tablespoons of brown sugar and a bit of cinnamon or vanilla. Simmer on very low for 30 minutes, let it cool, store in the fridge for the week. Sheeps milk yoghurt is creamier than cows, plus it contains lactobacillus acidophilus, a bacteria that encourages the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. Throw in a splash of organic milk if you like.

Strawberry and fromage frais toast
Thinly slice a good, heavy loaf of sourdough or spelt bread and toast. Top with fromage frais, fresh strawberries or raspberries and a drizzle of manuka honey. Spelt is an ancient form of wheat that suits most peeps (like moi) who are sensitive to wheat. Fromage frais is fresh, soft curd cheese that has a slightly sweet flavour and is low in fat. Find it at good delis and use within a few days (Jannei is my fave brand).

Eggs and dukkah soldiers
Boil an egg and eat it with strips of toast coated in olive oil and dukkah and cucumber fingers. Dukkah is an Egyptian mix of crushed nuts, seeds and spices - incredibly tasty and so good for you. Don't even think of skipping the egg yolk... they might contain more fat, but it's actually essential fatty acids omega-3 (good for brain and eyes) and omega-6 (healthy skin, hair, libido, growth and reproduction), plus vitamins A, E, D and K. And always, always buy organic.

These brekkies contain both protein and carbs, which will keep you feeling satisfied until lunch and reduce carb and sugar cravings for the rest of the day. So delicious. So clever.

Sunny with a chance of opinionatedness

I love how I respond differently to colours as I grow up. At the moment I'm in love with lemon yellow and jacaranda purple... in small doses. Bright colours don't interest me much and I hardly wear all black like I used to in my emo 20's. Now I'm wondering if that means something deep and interesting or if it simply means I like a bit of yellow here and there. Well my amigos, look in your wardrobe, paintbox and eyeshadow quads, for this is what's doing with your fave colours...

Red is all about the love... and stress. It's associated with power, passion, energy, vitality, aggression, courage and impulsiveness. It can help heal depression, fear, lack of confidence and poor circulation.

Orange is warm... and brings joy, wisdom, spontaneity, sensuality, humour and possibly superficiality. It alleviates sadness, boredom, low vitality, indigestion and joint pains.

Yellow is cheery... it's intelligent, innovative (well looky here how clever I am), sociable, lighthearted (check!), opinionated (erm...), evasive (really?) and critical (oh). It promotes mental stimulation, clears a foggy head, improves skin and helps with writer's block (AHA!).

Green is a bit jealous... but also wealthy, compassionate, balancing and refreshes the spirit. It can be jaded (get it?), envious and bitter, but helps with headaches, flu, claustrophobia and spite.

Blue is cool as... and calming, loyal, sincere, harmonious and responsible but also cold, manipulative and withdrawn. It soothes high blood pressure, cuts, burns, timidity and distrust.

Indigo is truthful... wise, inspired and will heal, connect you with the spirit and your intuition (same same). It's also arrogant, deluded and isolated. It'll ease insomnia, nerves, paranoia and obsession.

Violet is serene... artistic, spiritual, independent, perfectionist, self-destructive and a bit fanatical. It calms the mind and nerves, improves faith, relieves headaches, despair and loss of self-respect.

Colour me happy...

Salty, sandy and delirious

There's literally nothing on earth like a swim in the ocean. It blows away the cobwebs, refreshing the mind, body and soul. So why do we feel so freaking fabulous after a plunge in nature's party pool?..

* seawater, like the unrefined salt we make from it, contains all 84 known elements found in the body (refined or table salt contains 2 or 3 and it's hideously bad for you)
* the skin is our largest organ and loves an all-over wash: the ocean acts like an antiseptic and reduces inflammation and itching
* negative ions from the ocean strengthen the body's immune system, reinforce collagen and improve metabolism. They work their way into the bloodstream and end up where they're needed: calcium ions in the bones and potassium ions in muscles.
* breathing in the negative ions - from sea mist - has shown to alleviate depression and stress (Niagara Falls, the highest natural producer of negative ions, is one of the healthiest places on earth)
* seawater draws out toxins from the entire body
* it improves circulation and relieves aches and pains
* the magnesium content and sound of rhythmic waves is intensely calming, (don't you just sleep like a dream after a day at the beach?)
* we evolved from the sea, so a part of us feels like it's going home

Bikini? Check. Sarong? Check.
Laters.

Season of serendipity

There's an art to giving and receiving that might slip our hurried minds in the summer work-drinks-dinner-party-family-holiday-stressout extravaganza. At the heart of it is gratitude. Not for the pressies and champagne and smoked salmon blinis we're about to receive and not for the number of invites on the fridge.

Gratitude for all that we have, right now, everything as it is, is the best place to start. When you're out shopping for friends and family, imagine you'll be receiving nothing in return. Have no expectations over the next month and every little gesture will make you smile. Expectations blind us to the little things, setting our sights on parties and free gift wrapping and new shoes instead of family and love and mistletoe. Not to say presents are bad, hell no they're brilliant, but only if our attitude is humbled, just a little.

Happiness will hang around your 'hood and a sense of calm will ease the crazy season if you take this approach. I personally don't care much for the idea of having to do one act of kindness everyday, that doesn't bring happiness or a better world. That creates more rules where serendipity should reign. I think we have enough rules, bring back the art. Much more graceful.

Golden girl of the tropics

I think my tastebuds went on a long holiday and a whole set of new ones set up camp. Some foods that I used to detest - macadamia nuts (don't ask), brussel sprouts and paw paw - I now relish anew. I buy raw macadamia nuts from the markets and roast in a low oven for an hour. Oh lawdy they're good. Brussel sprouts taste amazing finely sliced and pan fried with bacon and pine nuts and drizzled with almond oil. Yeah they do.

As for paw paw, well, it's just perfect on a hot afternoon with a squeeze of lime juice. I also like to blend it up with some lychees, kaffir lime leaf and ice... or serve with lemon sorbet and raspberries. Here's why I'll keep on keeping on with the paw...

* packed with vit C, magnesium, iron, manganese, dietary fibre, folate, riboflavin, calcium and zinc
* the papain in the fruit helps the digestive system, so a bite for dessert will ease discomfort... and is especially good for people finishing a course of antibiotics as it restores good bacteria to the gut
* the anti-inflammatory nature eases muscle injuries and arthritis
* brilliant antioxidants help prevent strokes, heart attacks and diabetic heart disease
* strengthens the immune system and wards off colds and flus
* fresh slices on skin can ease eczema. Creams made from paw paw are also good, but be careful of the other ingredients in the tube, such as petroleum or other nasties you do not want on your skin

Shiny, happy peepsies

Up until a few years ago when I started writing beauty for magazines, I had been a bit of a lazy daisy when it came to skincare. Once I was inundated with information and products, I really had no choice but to step it up and show the epidermis some love. My skin is combination (oily t-zone) and after getting into morning and evening routines, I've noticed a real difference in tone and lack of breakouts. I've learned to always, always, clean and moisturise before bed, have regular facials (especially if you've got a million blackheads vying for your attention as I do) and apply eye cream around the eyes (along the ridge of the bone, no closer) and lips (dab around corners and along the top) every day.

One product that stood out amongst all the gems and crap that landed on my desk was Jojoba oil. There's nothing this baby can't do....

* the oils' properties are similar to human sebum, so it aids the healing process of bumps and scrapes (I witnessed this first hand on hubby's knee after he stacked in on a jog. After the scab came off *ewwwww* I made him put a few drops all over every day. It's amazing how fast it healed)
* it's the ultimate moisturiser, bringing back skin's natural elasticity and suppleness
* the anti-inflammatory nature of the oil means sweet relief for eczema, psoriasis and dandruff (I rub a little in flaky scalp areas at night before bed and gently wash in the morning, too easy)
* helps to heal stretched earlobes
* it's cheap (yes it comes in itty bitty bottles, but remember you're only using a few drops at a time) and odourless

And here's a good organic one... by Perfect Potion.

Run baby run

Too busy to chill out? Diary a bit too packed? Book yourself in for a massage (mobile OFF thank you) and you'll be better in the short and long term. Add a bit of exercise and you've got a good thing going on, busy or not, there's no excuse peepsies. Stress has been linked to just about every disease, disorder and bug because it reduces the immune system to function at its best, so now doctors have even been known to recommend meditation. Gasp! (In fact my excellent doc I had a few years ago did such a thing and I've been practicing ever since.)

Scientists at Princeton University recently discovered rats in the lab develop calm brain cells while running. For real! I find this so interesting because we know that exercise improves our mood, but now we're beginning to see that a jog or swim can create calm as well as happy hormones. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Heaven on a plate

My last meal would a delectable antipasti platter: French fromage (Saint Agur, Buche d'Affinois, Ossau Iraty and Chabichou), Italian cured meats (as much Jamon Iberico as I could carry), Sicilian olives, sourdough bread, rosemary grissini, glace figs, fresh pears and a log of black label foie gras. And a case of Veuve while I'm dreaming.

Until then, I'll be eating the above in small quantities. As in my pic from lunch the other day: delish proscuitto (make sure it's thinly sliced and at room temp before eating), sourdough bread, olives, sprouts, ripe red tomatoes (never store in the fridge) organic eggs and a local goats cheese. Heaven.

If you live in Sydney, do yourself a tasty favour and head down to my dear friend's new restaurant in Newtown called 2042 Cafe and Deli at 403 King Street. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sundays, it serves a lush a la carte menu as well as a stacked deli counter with the world's most exquisite cheeses, cured meats, foie gras, fresh breads, jams, marmalades, coffee, tea and soooo much more. Plus they're licensed and BYO, and so very lovely x

Chuckleberry and the laffalots

Most of us have days when smiling and optimism come easy, but at any given moment each of us also has 100 reasons to be stressed, anxious or upset. Sometimes we live in this distress, becoming victims of our own misery and rolling in it like a dog in a paddock. It's a boring old cycle that we need to break often, giving ourselves the chance to be happy. But happiness isn't as hard as you might think. It's not something that takes years to achieve, it's something you can have right now. It's within your grasp every second of the day... and it's called laughter. Ha!

So laugh. Laugh when you're upset at your boss (not to your boss), laugh when dinner burns (again), laugh when someone cuts you off on the highway and laugh when you forget your umbrella and it pours while you're out. While you're at it, go see a comedy at the movies, call an optimistic, laugh-a-minute friend for a chat or read a book/mag sure to make you giggle. Why for laugh?

* It's the fastest way to snap out of a bad mood
* Tension and stress are released throughout your body
* Your immune system is strengthened
* Pain is relieved
* Energy gets a boost
* You'll look more attractive than a grouch
* Endorphins are released, making you feel good
* Blood flow is increased and the heart protected
* It diffuses conflict

Sometimes spontaneity needs a bit of planning, especially if it's not a part of your usual repertoire. Try smiling more, tell bad jokes, be grateful of all the positive things in your life and do silly things to make others laugh. Just try not to make fun of others as a means of getting a belly laugh, otherwise, the jokes on you. ROFL x

Lily of the crazy

Unexpected acts of kindness are the pinnacle of serendipity to me. Even a simple smile from a stranger can snap me out of a sulky mood. Flowers are the ultimate, especially the ones for no reason at all. But if it's reason you're after, dear readers, it's reason I'll give you. In Elspeth Thompson's The Wonderful Weekend Book she lists a few dozen flowers and the meaning behind them. Here are my faves:

Sweet pea: gratitude
White roses: you're divine
Peony: bashfulness
Dahlia: you are indifferent
Hyacinth: please forgive me
Orchid: you have cast a spell over me
Magnolia: have courage
Camelia: I am longing for you
Narcissus: you are selfish

Who knew flowers could be so brusque? Anyhoo, I'll be heading to the markets this Sunday to pick up a bunch of bright blooms to liven up my home (and someone else's) with their heady scents and crazy personalities. I recommend you do the same, and grab an extra bunch for your mum, a friend or lover... just because.

The mozzie manual

Balmy nights, burnt prawns, slouchy picnics and mosquitoes. Summer must be here! I've already experienced a few nights of mozzie mania, trying to sleep with their bastardy little squeal lurking annoying close and waking up with legs covered in bites. I can't imagine anything worse than spraying chemicals in the bedroom (or anywhere else) while we're sleeping (or any other time), so I'm declaring a different kind of war. A peaceful one. Here's how I'm going to do it:

1. Buy
A study by the US Department of Agriculture few years ago compared four synthetic and eight natural mosquito repellents and found Repel Lemon Eucalyptus was the most effective of them all. The little buggers are clearly not fans. Hoorah for natural ingredients! The Aussie version is Mosi-guard. And I want it.

2. Plant
I've been researching garden books to make sure I'm doing the right thing in my new vegie garden (I'm not). They suggest planting Marigolds near the vegies as a natural pest deterrent, but I only discovered this morning that one of these pests is the mozzie. I'm also going to plant some rosemary - they hate the oils - in a little pot and keep it in the bedroom and office (it's good for memory too).

3. Burn
Citronella candles work - but might not be enough for total annihilation. Light them before you sit down for dinner alfresco (and perhaps tie some rosemary around your ankles).

4. Rub
Mosquitoes abhor citrus oils, found in the outer peel of citrus fruits. So the next time I have a BBQ I'm going to squeeze lemon juice all over my calamari and barramundi, then turn it around and rub the skin on my arms, legs and neck. It's ok, my friends already think I'm weird. If they're smart, they'll follow suit.

Sweet potato and sourdough

It's taken me a year of gastronomic introspection, but I now know exactly what irks my stomach. I rarely touch brown rice, white bread, potatoes, normal pasta and processed/packaged goods. These foods don't make me feel my best, and I believe we should only eat what makes us feel as good as we possibly can. That's what food is for, oui? While food allergies are thankfully rare, wheat intolerance affects about one in seven peeps, dairy intolerance affects three in four and sugar sensitivity affects one in three. Yikes!

Sourdough bread, spelt pasta, sweet potato, longrain rice and green lentils are my favourites. I stick to small amounts of dairy (organic full-fat milk and natural yoghurt) and tiny amounts of sugar (in my tea and my dark chocolate bars). But what works for moi rarely works for the next. So the next time you feel bloated, fatigued, in pain or otherwise unwell following a meal, ask yourself what the cause might have been. The bread? Pasta? Dairy? MSG or artificial flavours? Sugar? Keep a diary and the pieces will usually fall into place.

For those who are really unsure, I'd suggest seeing a holistic Naturopath to get some help. Check out the Natural Therapy Pages for a practitioner in your area. If you live in sunny Sydney, I'd highly recommend popping along to the Irresistible Gluten Free Food Show this weekend. I'm looking forward to the show and learning more about wheat sensitivities and how it affects people so differently. Information is key to understanding your body and living the happiest, most energetic life you can. See you there ravers x

Bring back the five second rule

People rarely bore me, I learnt early on that just about everyone has something to teach you if you let them. That's probably a good trait for a journo, as I imagine falling asleep during an interview isn't how one gets ahead... if you get me. One day a few moons ago I was interviewing a cleaner for an eco-home story. She scared the living cripes out of me when she told me how quickly our feet absorb chemicals used around the home. I tentatively asked her about a certain powder cleaner I used on my floors (blue and white and popular all over), she said it was one of the worst brands to clean with. Sheesh.

The following weekend I had a clean out of the cleaning cupboard. I rid the house of most of its chemicals in one swoop and then searched for the best possible eco, human and pet-friendly products. Thinking about doing the same? Here's a few reasons why it's worth it:

* Pets and children lick floors. Fact. Whatever you clean your floors with WILL end up in their stomachs no matter how thoroughly you rinse or wipe after.
* The warm water in your shower open the pores in your feet, face and everywhere else. It also picks up the chemicals you cleaned your shower with a delivers them straight into these pores and then into your bloodstream. Nasty much?
* The earth deserves better.
* Bleach colours dirt, it doesn't clean it. Also, the particles in bleach can cause reproductive, endocrine and immune system disorders.
* Allergies and skin conditions are caused or aggravated by being in constant contact with chemicals.
* Baking soda, white vinegar and lemons can clean almost every surface in your home. And they're so cheap they offset all the other fancy eco stuff you buy.

Shopping here is more fun than making your family sick, non?
Murchison-Hume, B_E_E & Eco Store

Just remember chemical cleaners don't do good things at landfill, so contact your local council for their recommendations on disposal.

Hey hot stuff

Recently while studying the intricacies of the human body and how it restores balance (i.e., doing my job), I came across some interesting info on yin and yang. Yin, the feminine, creative, quiet side of all of us, and yang, the masculine, logical, intense part, cannot be without each other, and we're constantly balancing the two (whether we know it or not).

Today's peep-talk is on yang. I have a friend who is hot, (and he's not Clive Owen). My friend, let's call him Gerario, is warmer than he should be and I'm concerned if this goes on forever it could make him unwell. Excess yang shows up in many ways, such as restlessness, lack of sleep, constipation, sweating, red face, hot body, dry throat and constant thirst. It can be due to a stressful situation (chronic or momentary), overthinking, too much alcohol and spicy food. The result is no fun at all and can lead to problems with the stomach, kidneys, liver, heart and lungs.

Cooling foods to help ease the yang include apple, apricot, bok choy, broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, melons, pearl barley, spinach and watercress. Include these in your diet regularly, but don't base all your meals on these foods. Be sure to eat plenty of raw vegies as well as steamed or baked. And see a Chinese herbalist for some magic potions that are sure to help.

Lifestyle changes you can make to chill yourself out include reading and shushing the mind every day. Add a bit more blue and green into your wardrobe or surrounds, don't spend all day in the sun (if your house is big-time sunny, get some thick curtains to block the afternoon sun) and keep your home as relaxing as possible (leave the TV off most of the time, especially while you eat. Classical music is your friend). Sitting in a pool eating ice-cream doesn't count.

Candy for your skin

Gorgeous skin glows. There are many things you can do to achieve dewy, youthful cheeks - good diet, regular exfoliation, the perfect moisturiser - but my new favourite trick is the easiest of them all: the face mist. Some contain essential oils to perk you up or chill you out, a few are more hydrating that others, but all in all a face mist is a portable bottle of skin love every gal should have with her. I have one in the bathroom and one on my desk to spritz as regularly as a perfume pusher in a department store.

Be Genki is the range I heart the most - for lip balms, creams, and most defo the mist. Sam, the gorgeous owner of the company, is zen personified. She has four mists for $24 each: Sensuality, Serenity, Tranquility and Vitality. I also adore the new JW Organics range by Judith White. The Phyto-Mineral Rose Facial Mist smells like a bunch of roses - not a fake wannabe - and makes my skin feel delish. I'm also a fan of the Ole Henriksen range, especially the Balancing Cucumber Face Mist. There are so many good things in there and the smell is beyond perfect for the summer months.

Today I'm giving myself an early mark, we're heading south to stay with friends at their beach house. I can't wait to soak up the sea spray: the best face mist of them all! Happy weekend xx

Frankie says chillax

I used to worry and stress. A lot. I was overly fraught with such anxiety that I had digestive problems, skin breakouts and troubled sleep. I kept myself so freakishly busy, a poor attempt at distracting myself from the realities of my job. But the anxiety never went away, I hadn't learnt to deal with it, so I covered it up. The crazy thing is that I loved my job. Loved! I worked with talented, beautiful people and day to day I had a wonderful job. It just wasn't right.

Then I was retrenched. That night I couldn't sleep very well... I was too excited. The weight had been lifted, the gates had been opened, the payout was coming and I was on my own. I finally had a chance to do what I've always wanted - be a freelance writer from home - and I took it by the horns. It's been six months since that day and I haven't stressed for a second. Some weeks I work a helluva lot more than I used to, but there's no angst, just more tea and late nights doing what I love on the laptop.

So if you're stressed because of your job - love it or hate it - here's a few suggestions.

* Get a new job. It might take a few months, but if you truly hate your job, or the industry you're in, move on! Write down everything you're good at in one column, in another write everything you love in life. In the middle is a job that suits you perfectly. Tell friends you're looking for a new job, word of mouth is a powerful thing.

* Start a new exercise routine. If you're doing nothing, start today with something small. I promise it'll help. Walk a lot, even in the rain, go for a swim on the weekend or join a yoga class. If you already have a routine, mix it up a bit. Focus only on exercises that stretch you physically but calm you mentally, maybe join a team to meet new peeps.

* Stop smoking and give coffee and alcohol a break. You may think the cigarette soothes your nerves, the coffee gets you in the zone or the alcohol helps you cope, but the complete opposite is true. Smoking messes up your body, making it more sensitive to stress and emotions, alcohol doesn't solve anything and coffee winds anxiety up to new levels. Trust me amigos, I've been there.

* Find a hobby. No I don't mean knitting or stamp collecting, hobbies can include fashion design, stationery printing, photography, writing, illustrating, salami making, gardening or volunteering. Having something to delve into that you absolutely adore makes life worth living some days. And it might even lead to a new, fabulous career.

Yearning over a new leaf

I'm ever so slightly obsessed with tea. I can't work without it, literally cannot start my day if I don't have my sleepy little fingers wrapped around a warm mug. As I mentioned in a previous post (sorry to repeat) I'm off coffee, alcohol and sugary drinks (that would be almost everything else except water and tea) for a little while. So the zest which I used to reserve for discussing NZ Sauv Blancs, Mornington Pinot's and Hunter Chardonnay's has now gone into all things hot and leafy. Earl Grey for the early morning, Chai or white tea for late morning and green or dandelion for the afternoon.

I first delved into tea when I worked at Simon Johnson many moons ago. He stocks a wide range of Mariage Freres teas imported from France, and my goodness they're the most exceptional tea you've ever smelt or supped.

Tea, my dear...
* contains antioxidants called polyphenols which fight disease and keep you looking younger for longer
* lowers total cholesterol and raises good cholesterol
* keeps memory sharp as a tack
* has an effect on stress hormone levels in the body to help you relax
* releases caffeine slower than coffee thereby keeping you alert for longer without the crash

Try: making your own iced tea by infusing a teapot with a strong brew - dandelion and white are perfect - wait ten minutes, strain into a glass bottle and add some lemon and honey. When the bottle cools, keep it in the fridge for a balmy day chillout.

Buy: loose leaf tea and use teapots or individual strainers - and don't use more than a pinch. The best quality tea always goes into the tins of loose leaf while the dodgy small bits are sent straight to the tea-bagging factory. Plus, think of the landfill. (I know, I know, it's a tea bag. But they add up my peeps.)

Easy as apple cake

Cake is good. Cake with berries and ice-cream is even better. A cake that's good for you with local berries and organic ice-cream makes my heart just sing! So here's how you make the divine-alicious apple cake above. (Recipe adapted from Wholefood by the amazing Jude Blereau.)

Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees. Core, peel and finely slice 5 organic Granny Smith apples, toss in a bowl with zest and juice of one lemon. In another bowl, combine 85g oatmeal, 85g wholemeal spelt flour and 2 tspns baking powder. In another bowl (preferably attached to a KitchenAid, otherwise use electric beaters), whisk 200g raw or rapadura sugar and 3 eggs until creamy and thick. Slowly pour in 120g melted butter and flour mixture, beat gently until flour is incorporated and set aside for 5 minutes. Add 100ml organic milk (or less if the mixture gets too thin) and 1 tspn natural vanilla extract.

Discard juice from apples. Place 1/3 of cake mix into baking paper-lined 24cm cake tin, top with 1/3 of apples and continue until mix and apples are all in. Make a pretty pattern with the apples on top if you wish. Top with a small handful of crushed walnuts and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Bake for 1hr, 20 mins, remove when knife in centre comes out clean. Let it cool on a wire rack, invite friends around if they're really worth it (or they have a good sticky) and enjoy amigos!

See you at the beach

I love Summer. I love getting sandy and salty at the beach, feral at a picnic or indulgent at a long BBQ lunch. Rolling home in a sunny daze I'll jump in the shower, cover myself in rich body lotion, change into the comfiest thing within my lazy reach and curl up with a magazine or book. That feeling right there is the best. It's like I've been bear-hugged by Mother Nature and everything is right again in the world.

A part of that feeling is, controversially, being kissed by the sun. I understand Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world - we need to wear sunscreen every day and not pursue a tan at a risk to our health. But I also think the sun's rays are vital to our wellbeing and shouldn't be shunned altogether. Here's why:

* Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helps regulate cell growth, boosts fertility, relieves PMS, assists with weight loss, reduces asthma symptoms and protects against radiation.
* Vitamin D may also prevent cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, arthritis, hypertension, heart failure, TB, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Crohn's and Alzheimer's.
* Studies have shown that vitamin D actually protects the skin against UV damage, reducing the amount of DNA damage caused and the number of sunburnt cells.

My advice? Strip off (just a little) and get ten minutes of blissful sunshine - without sunscreen - every day. There are plenty of food products in the supermarket fortified with vitamin D but they come nowhere near close to nature's perfect dose. See you at the beach.

It's a dawg's life

Things I've learned from my dog Scout, the bestest friend ever:

+ Food makes an excellent bribe for all walks of life
+ + Fresh food is best. Fresh as in raw
+ It's not the number of toys you have that counts, but rather the squeak in your toy
+ + Cats are strange and should not be trusted
+ Lying in the sun for a few minutes should be a daily ritual
+ + Couches are nice but sheepskin on the couch is much better
+ Scratches and massages are entirely underrated
+ + Running as fast as you can every morning is a great way to start the day
+ Dogs are more sensitive than most people expect and should be treated accordingly
+ + + Having someone love you is the greatest thing in the world

The vegies of my labour

After a long, busy day in front of le laptop, this afternoon I gave myself an early mark (I'm good like that) and headed for the garden. Hubby and I are rookies when it comes to most things leafy and green, so now that we're establishing a vegie garden, the chaos is mounting.

But chaos at work and chaos alfresco are so different. The hour I spent re-potting tomatoes and chillies, making a home for capsicum seedlings in the veg box, helping the snow peas find their way up their bit of string, having a chat with the yellow beans, tasting the rocket, trimming the sage and weeding out unwanted visitors was the most relaxing hour I could have ever treated myself with.

And hopefully soon they'll be treating us with fruits (and vegies) of our labour.
I can hardly wait.

Stop and smell the waffles

My bro and sis-in-law have one of the most stunning rose gardens. They have all shades of creams, pinks and reds, plus lilac, sunshine yellow and in-between shades photoshop couldn't even dream of. I was wandering through it the other day smelling each of them, getting dizzy with it. There were heady, sweet, delicate, meh and a few omg among them. There's nothing quite like it. Literally. Synthetic try-hards give me a headache, it's such a notable difference ~ not sure why peeps even bother concocting smells when nature has them all on a platter.

Our nose is fascinating. I guess it's in the centre of our face for a reason or 700. Did you know, by breathing through our nose we're calming our entire nervous system? Chillaxing you might say. We're also purifying and dehumidifying the air. Smells are also the main determinant of a food's flavour... more than taste. Yes! Crazy! While taste is limited to sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami (love that word), smells are unlimited.

We humans can distinguish about 10,000 aromas, from fresh coffee to the beach, apple pie and freesias. So clever. And these scents do more than make us happy (or nauseous, depending on what's under your shoe). Once we get a whiff of something, the olfactory sensors help us work out what it is and then send the info to the limbic system in the brain, among other areas. A part of the limbic system is an area that controls emotions, long-term memory and behaviour, which is why smells can instantly trigger memories or make you feel happy, lousy, in love, sleepy or energized.

So try and be a bit more mindful of your nose. Breathe slowly in and out of it (unless you're exercising). Use aromatherapy to wake you up or calm you down. Let your nose linger over a glass of wine long before you take a sip. Dot perfume on your wrist instead of your neck so you can experience it all day. Place some handpicked flowers next to your desk and relish their sweet bouquet. And stop and smell the waffles. You know you want to.

Roast me happy

Throwing a dish in the oven is possibly the easiest route to an amazing (and easy to clean up after) dinner. Almost any conceivable combination somehow works with the magic of a simple cooking device that hasn't fundamentally changed since forever ago. Here are a few faves to try... I saved the best for last...

* Mediterranean frankie. Throw a punnet of whole cherry tomatoes, some lightly flavoured herbs (parsley, coriander, chives), cubes of bread and your favourite olives (mine are Sicilian) in a shallow baking dish. Mix with a splash of evo, few drops of balsamic and sea salt. Cook it for 10 minutes in a medium oven, then toss ingredients. Get it back in there for another 10 minutes. Add some bocconcini, cracked pepper, cook for another 2 and serve.

* Fennel chicken frankilicious. Slice fennel, brown onion and garlic, mix together with a bit of dill, lemon zest, seasoning and olive oil and place in a medium baking dish. Top with a few chicken drumsticks that have been coated in seasoning and olive oil. Cook for 20 minutes on 180, turn drummies and cook another 20-30 minnies or until juice runs clear.

* Frankie says potato. Peel and slice two large potatoes and two large sweet potatoes into wedges. Coat in rosemary, sea salt and olive oil. Roast for 40 ish minutes on 180. Eat with smoked trout, baby spinach and a dollop of creme fraiche.

* Barrafrankie pies. Wrap barramundi fillets in foil with a squeeze of lemon and whack in a 200 degree oven for five minutes. Saute a diced onion, diced leek and thyme in oil and butter in a large fry pan until soft. Add 4 tablespoons of flour, stir well. Add 250ml vegie stock, cook 5 mins, then add 150ml milk, cook 2 minutes. Season, add parsley, remove from heat. Line 4 buttered ramekins with puff pastry, bake for 3 minutes. Flake fish flesh into the insanely delicious smelling goodness in the fry pan. Slice four medium mushrooms and add to the mix. Throw into lightly golden pastrified ramekins, place lids on each with a wee hole in the top, brush with a beaten egg and bake 10 mins. Turn heat down to 180 and leave for another 20 mins. Amazing.

Life in technicolour

This morning while doing my lazy rounds at the shops - chai latte, park with dog, people watching, hoping the busker would be back (he sings and strums real nice) - I noticed that some of the mail boxes at the post office had been vandalized *shock* with green glitter glue. Unbelievable.

To think that someone would be creative and strange enough to dot glitter glue on public property. Perhaps we should stage a lock-down at all the local child cares and schools and search bags for matching glitter.

Personally I love graffiti/street art. Walking around our neighbourhood we see it everywhere, and it's usually quite clever and always loud. The other morning I saw it in pastels along a 10m long wall... as a part of a spruced-up kiddie park. And now I wonder, was this a good idea? Or will it simply encourage other youngsters to graduate from the sustainably-built swings to random acts of glitterati?..

Meditation miracles

I don't know what I would do without meditation. Ok, that's a lie. I know exactly what I'd do! Stress, stress, stress. Some days anxiety arrives unannounced and stays a while, and usually a bit of ommming clears it right out. The meditations I do (almost) each morning are quite simple: sit cross-legged somewhere comfy (not too comfy) and clear the mind with each breath. Sounds simple, is tough in practice, but worth every minute - for the rest of the day I feel calm and clear-headed.

Last night I started a new yoga class and we were guided through a meditation at the beginning and end of the class. It was so relaxing and relatively easy to follow... shame the yoga poses weren't as simple but hey, these legs need some tough love.

Meditation has many scientifically proven health benefits. Reduction in anxiety, stress and depression, boosted immune function, reduced blood pressure, better sleep, helps with management of chronic pain, improved performance and concentration and can be used to treat nasty habits. And there are many more benefits you'll discover when you start.

Try it out for the next week. Just five minutes a day, because you're worth it.

Sweet taste of freedom

There's something about someone else's hardship that makes me look at my own life with refreshed eyes. Currently I'm reading Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom and I am quite literally blown away by that great man's life. The overwhelming struggle, oppression and ridicule he fought for his entire life is beyond inspirational.

I also recently saw a brilliant movie called Mao's Last Dancer, directed by Bruce Beresford, based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. The book, as they so often do, delves into much more detail than the movie ever could, and delivers a beautiful rag-to-riches story of a Chinese boy with extreme determination and a grateful heart.

There are lessons at ever turn in these books, so I drink them slowly like a dusty bottle of red wine. Handed life in its harshest of guises, these men never complain and don't give up for a second. Forget celebrities, these are my heroes.

Queen of hearts

Most of us never really lose our love of dressing up, do we? I love it, especially random, fun, fancy dress theme parties. A friend Andrew had his birthday party on Saturday night and themed it Las Vegas style, which was such a hilarious idea. My friend Claire (in pic above) and I went as Cigarette Girls (with trays full of candy), my hubby went as Evil Knievel (costume from here), there were showgirls, play bunnies, homies, card sharks, brides, grooms, an Elvis, Siegfried and Roy... and a burlesque show.

With plenty of outlandish threads, surreal make up and props, I realised this was such an excellent way to set up single friends or introduce new friends to older ones. So if you haven't anything planned for Halloween, or just feel like throwing a cracking party, team with a theme and you'll have an amazing night. From stuffed animals to superheroes, nursery rhymes, disco, swing or circus, you can have it as tame or eccentric as you like.

Another day in paradise

Today was one of those strangely fuzzy days. I felt like I woke up in an afro and couldn't find which way was up to escape. So I settled into the fuzz, embraced it if you will. I caught up on some tasks that didn't require much communication between the cells and gave my dog a lot of scratches. According to plenty of friends updating their status on facebook today, they too were having an average day in paradise. Ah well, it's in the stars then.

Here's how I'm going to finish off my day of lethargy: homemade noodle soup, long smelly bath, quality ice-cream and a lengthy game of scrabble. But if you're not on the wagon like moi, you might just find yourself enjoying a few tasty cold vodkas instead. Have one for me x

War and peace

I'll never forget an article by Peter Hartcher I read years ago on smh.com.au. He wrote about the wars that were raging at the time and the amount of hatred that seemed to dominate every news bulletin. He then pointed to the amount of love to be found in the world, an overwhelming tidal wave in every war zone, every city, every neighbourhood. He told stories and filled my heart.

An unwavering fact of our society is that there is always a counter-trend. Where there is war, there is hope. When email went global, creative stationery went local. Chefs pioneering molecular gastronomy were counter-balanced with heroes of slow food. Cheap, plastic goods had to contend with locally produced wooden creations that last many lifetimes.

And when materialism, the push for more, the soulless search for bigger and richer began to show cracks... what sprung from the emptiness? Garden patches. Flowers. Camping. Books. Chook pens. Closer families. Sewing. Homemade. Art galleries. Brave sole traders. Originality. Comfort. Organic. And lots of love.

So I, for one, am grateful the economy came crashing down. I know the transition was a lot harder for many than it was for myself, but I see now that the frustration has mostly abated, what is left is what matters. Hold onto it with both hands.

Baby it's warm outside

As soon as the weather pipes up a notch, crazy people start talking about Christmas. Usually I'm a little offended and totally uninterested in any form of Festive Talk until the holidays begin. However this year, I'm doing things a little differently. I'm starting early. Yes, I see how that makes me a crazy person. But when the holidays hit and you're sorted on all fronts and hammock-time stretches out all day (instead of the 3.5 minutes somewhere between shopping and cooking and wrapping and banging your head against a cool, blunt surface), you'll thank me. The crazy person.

Step 1. Shop like it's a competition. You want interesting gifts, you want them cheap (ish) and you want them delivered into your lap. The biggest waste of time in December is running around in your lunch break looking for the perfect gifts for 27 peeps. And then queuing for 45 minutes to pay for each. So get online NOW and buy a few gifts every week until you've nailed your list. These are my faves: hartandheim.com.au, milkandsugar.com.au, magshop.com.au, kitcosmetics.com.au, shop.until.com.au, dedeceplus.com, ebay.com.au, madeit.com.au, etsy.com, adorebeauty.com.au, mycatwalk.com.au, fishpond.com.au & booktopia.com.au

Step 2. Look for quirky wrapping and tagging ideas. It's been, like, forever since Christmas was red and green, so throw dated ideas out the window and look for bits around your house or in stationery shops that work. Put on your creative-coloured glasses and you'll be amazed at what you find. Thick cream paper with a pink bow is an instant card/tag, a stunning tea towel doubles as wrapping and a clever eco bag/basket becomes the base of a foodie/baby/beauty hamper.

Step 3. Fill up the pantry and the wine rack early, it'll save you SO much hassle later. I always have grissini, olives, artichokes and chick peas handy for guests... I buy them in bulkish and they never go to waste. (Why the chick peas? Good question. I whiz them into hommous with evo, lemon juice, salt, paprika and a bit of water. Such an easy fresh dip without the additives and general weirdness of supermarket brands.) Wine is always, ALWAYS, much cheaper by the case. With time on your side, you can test a few moderately priced bottles out over the next few BBQs and buy the most delish and affordable ones by the case. Win, win, win.

Step 4. Don't spend beyond your means and have a super relaxing, hammock-swinging enjoyable Christmas.