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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!

Howdy, I’m Sarah a 28 year old free-lance personal fitness trainer. Newly married to my best pal Patrick an Aussie, we moved to Perth in June and are planning on staying for the foreseeable future. I love my job and I’m stoked to bring my business to this gorgeous city.

I am also teaching Powerplate Classes on Monday nights over at the Perth Pilates Studio in North Perth.

Savi Body Cream.

♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.

I guess you could call it no-fuss?? I am up early and am constantly on the move. I like my hair long so I don’t have to “do” it (it’s wavy, so the longer the straighter).

I have always been a massive believer in not putting lots of stuff on your face or the skin ends up not doing its job properly. The whole cleanse, tone, day/night cream etc. etc. just isn’t me. I have never had problem with my skin which I know is the result of a combo of eating well and exercising daily.

I always wear SPF 30 on my face though (Olay Complete Defence SPF 30, but only because its well priced and at the local super market), and always take my makeup off at night. Moisturizer daily on my body has been important in WA too, as my skin needs to get used to the dry weather and sunshine. I’m currently using a body cream by Savi, an organic company from Margaret River, which I received for Christmas.

I’ve also been using the Wotnot Wipes and am LOVING them!

An example of Indian Head Massage!

♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?

I still have a lot to discover in Perth, but I did have a brilliant Indian head massage from Louise Perkins at Four Essence last week.

♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?

Jodi from Scissor Sister in Mount Lawley recently fixed a nasty cut and highlights I had at a place in Cottesloe (I won’t name it but email me and I’ll tell you). I will be going back to her for sure as I love the space, massage chairs, good coffee, and is reasonably priced.

♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment? 

I am a natural blonde with blonde eyelashes and brows so I tint my own once in a while. I bought this stuff in London last year for at home tinting (didn’t keep the packaging when I moved over though so not sure of the name sorry) and it has lasted ages. I’m sure there is an equivalent here??

Diorshow Mascara – a fave among many!

♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products? 

My Mom has encouraged me to wear Mineral makeup and sent me this RMS BEAUTY “uncover-up” to use. It is pretty special stuff and she swears by it which is an intense endorsement by a lady who knows her products.

I wear Diorshow mascara as it doesn’t clump.

I love Malin and Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant which is aluminum free and fantastic. My sister in law turned me on to it.

Cottesloe Beach

♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

My gorgeous, slim and stylish mother has always emphasized everything in moderation in life. I try not to deny myself anything; however I find that when I eat well, drink tons of water and exercise a lot I am the happiest and the cycle continues as I then crave this euphoric healthiness everyday.

After a long stretch of English “Summers” I went over board on the beach when I first moved to Perth. I need to keep my face out of the sun to stave off excessive wrinkles and freckles. A naturally pale face is my new mission, although it’s not a secret and you all probably live by that mantra now anyway.

♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)

I would love to book in for metabolic or nutrition type testing at a reputable clinic soon. A knowledgeable nutritionist I used to train in London recommends Dr. Mercola and his methods and website.

I don’t believe in all the hype around diets out there. I preach proven methods of eating unprocessed and moderate portions of all sorts of foods in your diet and expending more calories than you take in daily to my clients.

However, there have been a lot of studies recently (and more and more doctors and naturopaths are jumping on board) about how different foods that many of us think are healthy, might not be the best for us long-term. There is so much information out there and it is hard to decipher fact from fiction.

♥

♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

I try to mix it up a bit as I think it’s important not to eat the same thing everyday but yesterday I had;

* Brekkie was whole oat porridge made with almond milk, cinnamon, banana, chia seeds and natural peanut butter

* Coffee with a dash of full fat milk

* Lunch was a large salad of spinach, tomatoes, seeds, feta, cucumber and avocado

* I had some blueberries and almonds in a small bowl of full fat vanilla gelatin free yogurt as a snack before evening teaching

* Dinner I made a homemade prawn pad thai kind of thing with steamed broccoli on the side.

*Few squares of dark chocolate for dessert

I love cooking and constantly look for new and different recipes, but always add extra veggies and use less meat than called for.

Powerplate

♥ Describe your fitness routine.

It changes depending on my schedule, but lately I have been running 2-3x’s a week (along the West coast is such a treat), going to one yoga class that fits in with my ever-changing appointment schedule, and one powerplate session. I stretch daily and go for many beach walks. I love trying new classes of any type of exercise and different instructors. By doing this, I can expand my exercise library and use what I think works well for my clients.

I love cycling, swimming and pilates too. I used to dance professionally so I am keen to get back into some regular classes in 2011. I am active with clients all day too which I am ever grateful for.

♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.

Nope.

Any questions for Sarah? Leave ’em below!

Be well,

xoxo

When the opportunity to try some Weleda products came up I jumped at the chance. Having used several Weleda products in the past I was very keen to get them back into my life.

How do I love Weleda? Let me count the ways…

♥ Their philosophy – they believe in harmony between nature and human beings.
♥ The plant extracts and ingredients and grown using bio dynamic and organic methods.
♥ All formulations are free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colours & parabens.
♥ No animal testing!

This guy? Not harmed.

I had the chance to trial four Weleda products; Lavender Creamy Body Wash, Birch Body Exfoliant, Wild Rose Body Oil and Wild Rose Face Mask. The review of the Weleda products is split into two parts so read on to find out more about the Lavender Creamy Body Wash and Birch Body Scrub and stayed tuned for reviews on the Wild Rose products.

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One of my favourite scents is lavender; it’s very soothing and calming and I’ve been using lavender and lavender based products for a long time. It is perfect to use after a long busy day at work to help relax and de-stress.

I’ve been using the Lavender Creamy Body Wash at night, the scent is just divine and it is perfect to use after a long busy day at work to help relax and de-stress. Weleda uses organic lavender grown from Moldova in a fair trade agreement.

I found this body wash very gentle, didn’t strip my skin and it lathered well .The formulation as the name suggests is a lovely creamy consistency. The scent tended to linger for a while after I used it which was lovely.

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I’ve been on the lookout for a gentle body scrub for awhile. The last few ones that I tried have been quite rough and have even left nasty red scratch marks on my skin. Trying the Birch Body Scrub was a dream.

According the Weleda website Birch has been proven to be helpful to rid the body of toxins and help in the detoxifying process. The Birch Body Scrub uses natural plant wax pearls to gently but effectively exfoliate and smooth the skin. I noticed that my skin was smoother after just one use. The scrub is effective but not harsh at all. Tough areas like my elbows and knees are feeling softer. Even the scent is refreshing and uplifting. This is the perfect scrub to use in summer to get ready for all those skin baring party dresses! This scrub is a winner!

Have you tried Weleda products? What are your favs?

Review by Hannah-Lee.

Be well,

xoxo

♥ Amazing graphic design by yours truly! ♥

Eating lentil burgers is one of the true great delights of being a vegetarian, of course meat eaters can (and should!) indulge in these legume-y treats too, but they do hold an extra special place in my non-meat lovin’ heart due to their deliciousness & high protein content!

Some people I’ve spoken with think lentils are a little bit hippy. A bit too mung beans, peace signs and make love not war, man.

Well I’m here to tell the naysayers to get nay-ed, and throw it out there that I think my most recent healthy lentil burger creation would turn even the most hardened carnivore into a giant big fan of these less than beautiful, but more than tasty food friends.

Time Required: 30-35 minutes ’til you get to dine.
Difficulty Rating: 1 lentil. If I can do it, anyone can.

Notes: This burger is very filling, you will more than likely feel like chowing down another one straightaway but wait 10 minutes for your food to settle, then reassess! The structure of the burger is very important so as to separate the flavours in the optimum way, so take care 😉

Ingredients:

♥ 2 slices of your bread of choice. Mine since you asked is Abbott’s Village Bakery – Light Rye. Stunning!
♥ 1 Sanitarium Lentil Patty. These are located in the frozen section of the supermarket, most Coles & IGA’s I’ve been to have them.
♥ 1/2 a tomato.
♥ 2-3 thin slices of reduced fat fetta.
♥ 1/4 sliced avocado.
♥ 1/2 tbsp hummus.
♥ A lil bit of tomato sauce.

Method: (is that the right word? or did I just slip back into high-school science..)

Cook the lentil patty in the oven til golden brown and crispy on both sides, this takes a while in my non fan-forced oven, so I heat it to 200 degrees cook for 15 mins, then flip over and cook for another ten.

Toast the bread & spread hummus on one piece and spread/place the avo slices on the other.

Place the patty on the avo side, and decorate patty with the desired sauce pattern then top with the thin fetta slices.

Tomato slices are up next and you may then finish with the piece of hummus’d toast on top.

For optimal eating pleasure, cut diagonally into two halves.

Experience the taste sensation, then come back here and leave a comment telling me how brilliant I am! Hehe.

This burger is so good for you, full of nutrients, good fats & protein. If you try it, let me know! Just writing about it has made me hungry so I’m off to create some havoc in my kitch.

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Tammi Ireland, Coveted Canvas.

♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!

I’m a mag-loving, journalist working in newspapers full-time while also free-lancing for other newspapers and online sites. Thus, my ‘fluffy’ writing had to be directed elsewhere, so I founded Coveted Canvas in March 2010. It’s a beauty website with tips and tricks, product and salon reviews, trend reports, holistic tips, competitions and more. I put all the info I’ve learnt from years working in the modelling industry and behind the scenes at mag shoots onto the web for girls like me who love experimenting with their look.

In my spare time, I write letters to myself, read books, watch Mad Men and sample Perth’s restaurants.

Bloom Organics Rosehip Oil

♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.

Reviewing countless products means no day is the same. That being said there are some steadfast rules I stick to. I cleanse with Dermalogica’s Pre Cleanse twice (once to remove impurities, once to actually cleanse), followed by scrubbing my face and neck with their Daily Microfoliant. If I skip this step, my skin is really dull – the movement of exfoliation brings blood to the surface. Next I’ll apply a serum or moisturiser (always with SPF), depending on my plans for the day and follow with makeup.

At night I either repeat the Pre-Cleanse process or remove makeup with WotNot wipes (amazing!) before applying Bloom Organics Rosehip Oil over my face and neck, and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye to prevent premature wrinkles. Vaseline keeps my lips from drying out during sleep.

♥ Hidden Valley ♥

♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?

Working six and a half days a week means I don’t get to the salon that much, which makes me extremely sad. When I do, it’s more a time-saving thing than an experience. Eyebrow waxing at Lovely Lady in Midland is great for those weeks I just can’t be bothered plucking my own brows.

That being said, I actually had my very first professional massage in June at Hidden Valley Eco Retreat, which was amazing. I’ve got vouchers for those on every one of my distributed Christmas lists.

♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?

Head Studio in King Street. I used to get around when it came to hairdressers but the guys at Head Studio were great when I went in to get balayage and a new style. There’s nothing more reassuring than having your stylist listen to your wants before they take to your hair with scissors! Plus the salon’s décor and coffee alone, is worth going back for.

♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

An at-home manicure. When I went to LA last December, I stocked up on OPI nail polishes (they’re only $7 there!) so I’m quite enjoying working my way through them all. A slick of colour on your nails can completely change your mood.

♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

1. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (see above)

2. Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara for everyday because I can easily take it off and wake up without looking like a panda

3. Burt’s Bees Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Açai Berry to keep my lips hydrated under the office aircon.

♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

Not really secret, but I like to drink a lot of water and use concealer religiously. I can definitely feel the difference when I eat better, too, so I try to avoid bad foods and (recently) caffeine.

♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)

There are so many! When I started Coveted Canvas, I had no idea about some of the amazing treatments out there.

I would love to say goodbye to unwanted hair permanently with laser removal but find it hard to justify the price, I want to try meditation and more yoga, and after reading your Sodashi Chakra balance review I’d like to try that too.

ED: Check out our IPL/SPL review!

♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

No day’s the same but I always like a high-fibre breakfast with a few glasses of water to kick off the day. I try to eat a healthy lunch – salad roll or left-over stir-fry – but the problems come in around 3.30pm when I’ve been at my desk all day. Here I’ll have endless amounts of tea to get me through to dinner. Usually that’s protein and veggies. I snack on cashews, summer fruits and some health bars throughout.

♥ Describe your fitness routine.

It’s definitely not as good as I’d like it to be! I try and do some stretching or yoga in the morning to get my blood pumping, then walk throughout the day where I can (parking the car far from the office entrance, for example). I recently tried Zumba and plan on doing that a lot more.

Otherwise, I try to walk and use the family Ab-Swing and rower where possible. If I had more time, I would be all over the Bikram yoga and salsa dancing again. Sadly, I just can’t find time to get to the classes.

♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.

When I’ve had a few hard days, I’ll pop a women’s multivitamin and if I’m feeling iffy, I’ll try Inner Health Plus but really I prefer to just ride it out and get the nutrients from my diet. I’m a big believer in mind over matter and that if you think you’re well, you’ll be well.

Thanks Tammi 🙂

If anyone has any comments or questions please leave them below!

Be well,

xoxo

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Woah woah woah! I literally just let out a “YES!” and clapped my hands with glee! You see, I’ve heard so much about these little pockets of bliss that are available to my Sydney, Melbourne & even Adelaide mates…tiny spa wonderlands where divine organic ingredients envelop you and you leave a changed person.

Okay okay, I haven’t tried it myself but this is what I’ve heard through my extensive reading of spa & beauty blogs from other states!

SO, the biggg news is (as I’m sure you can guess from the title) is that these bliss havens called Endota Spa’s will FINALLY be making their way to our West coast home!

David Jones city store will be the location of the first spa… and there will be more to come, they are currently offering franchising opportunities in these areas:

Territories available in greater Perth:

– Cannington
– Cottesloe
– Daglish
– Fremantle
– Innaloo
– Joondalup
– Mt Hawthorn
– Mt Lawley
– North Perth
– Perth CBD
– Scarborough
– Subiaco
– Warwick

territories available in regional WA:
– Mandurah
– Margaret River

I’ve also had the privilege of using the Endota Organic Rose Hip Oil and Honey & Rosehip mask of late and by golly, my skin is glowing! It’s like it just eats it up! There will be a proper review later, but I just wanted to give a bit of an idea as to why I’m excitedly raving like a lunatic.

So, to recap.

Endota Spas. Perth. 2011. Organic / Natural. Completely amazing. I will be first in line!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo