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 and calming, loyal, sincere, harmonious and responsible but also cold, manipulative and withdrawn.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