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Beauty and Wellbeing Routine: Bonnie Doran, Fashion Blogger @ Bonnie Friday.

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

I’m a fashion blogger, freelance journalist and law student from Perth, WA. Writing and fashion have always been my two passions, and now I am able to indulge them through the same avenue! My blog, Bonnie Friday focuses on mainly Western Australian designers, boutiques and personalities. Recently I was flown to New York to cover New York Fashion Week for Nokia and Elle.com! Since then I have realized that fashion media is what I really want to get into. Now all I have to do is chase the opportunities!

Tell us about your daily beauty routine.

I’m a person who is starved for time. Between working, studying and trying to build a journalism/styling portfolio, I don’t have time for a lengthy beauty routine. In the shower I use Bliss body wash which I bought in New York and a Nivea facial toner. After my morning shower I moisturize with an Olay cream and if my skin needs a little bit of extra TLC I use a Lancome moisturizing and de-stressing gel or the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 gel. In the evening I repeat my shower beauty routine and cleanse my face with a Clearasil cleanser. I also use the Garnier eye roll-on day and night to control puffy circles.

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

I can’t live without eyebrow shaping. I believe it’s a simple treatment that can make a huge difference when it comes to framing your face. I have my eyebrows shaped at the Benefit Eyebrow bar in Myer. The ladies there take it seriously and are really professional. I’ve never been anything less than 100% satisfied!

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

I get my hair done at Bangs Salon on Murray Street. My hair stylist Naomi has just left for Melbourne so I am a little distraught, but everyone there is amazing. They know exactly what I want even when I say things like “you know, I want hair like Lara Bingle” and the prices are really reasonable!

Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

You don’t have to spend a lot on treatments for your hair. There are so many products out there that provide the same results at home as the salon! I deep condition my hair with a Schwarzkopf deep condition about once per month. The results are amazing and I bought the tub for around $10 a year ago!

Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

I live for my Bliss body wash. There is something really soothing about stepping out of the shower, feeling clean and smelling like orange blossom! Maybe it is also because it reminds me of my trip to New York! I’ve also just run out of my SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel which is like liquid gold! I have never found a product that has been so great for my skin. Thirdly I have issues with puffy circles around my eyes. Since trying the Garnier eye roll on I will never go back. I know some people are dubious about the benefits but even if the caffeine has no effect, the results are soothing and hydrating. I have noticed a marked difference in the skin around my eyes!

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

Drinking lots of water and eating well is essential for looking and feeling great, but it is no secret! I suppose I try to be positive as much as I can. I think that makes a huge difference in how you look and feel. Happiness is by far the best beauty therapy!

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

I would love to try Bikram yoga because I have heard so many great things about it. I’m not sure though if I would be able to handle the heat… literally!

Describe a typical day of eating for you.

I usually get breakfast with my morning coffee in the city to save time at home. I’m a little bit naughty and will often have a muffin or a croissant! Lunch depends on whether I am at work or uni. At work I will often have an avocado roll or a pesto chicken wrap from Croissant Express. At uni I can’t go past the rice paper rolls at Café 55 in Fremantle! I try to cook every night and keep it as diverse as possible. A couple of regulars are rice with butter chicken, and veal ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce!

Describe your fitness routine.

On a good day I’ll try to do 30 minutes of cardio on top of my daily running around. I never drive to work so that means I get at least 40 minutes of fast walking each day. When I get home I play with the dog in the front yard or workout to the Zumba video I got for Christmas.

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

I take a Vitamin B supplement which helps me to keep my stress under control and seems to put everything into perspective. Whenever I call my Mum to tell her about an issue I’m having she asks me “Have you had a Vitamin B lately?” It may sound silly but it’s true, Vitamin B is really important for me to ensure I balance my stress!

How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?

Nothing beats a holiday to Rottnest. I can never be stressed on Rottnest Island – lazing around in the sun, riding my bike around the island and swimming in the crystal clear waters! That’s rarely an option though so for day to day de-stressing I take a deep breath, go for a walk and have some “me” time. I also think it’s important to spend some quality time with my family and partner when I’m feeling stressed. Sunday is my ultimate relax day because I lounge around with my partner and our dog watching movies and talking about our weeks!

Thanks to Bonnie for sharing her beauty & wellbeing routine!

If you’d like to ask Bonnie any questions, you can do so in the comments below 🙂

Be well,

xoxo

Yoga DVD Reviews: Yoga Easy and Yoga 2 Easy, by Yolanda Pettinato.

A little while ago I did a callout on Facebook to rustle up the names of some of your favourite yoga dvds, as I’ve long been yearning for a home practice for those days that I don’t feel like venturing back out of the house after work.

One recommendation really caught my eye and since receiving the DVD’s I’ve been unashamedly having a bit of a love affair with them. Meet the first two members of my yoga video library (which I hope will grow with time!) – Yoga Easy and Yoga 2 Easy by the lovely Yolanda Pettinato.

Yolanda is truly inspirational, having overcome obstacles in her life that would defeat most people, she is the glowing example of everything that yoga represents – tranquility, wisdom, inner peace and honouring your body.

What you will need:

♥ Yoga Mat – I use my Mukha mat (which I wrote about here)
♥ The desire to stretch and strengthen your body, calm your mind and feel fantastic! (And who doesn’t want that?!)

That is ALL you need, and the DVD of course. If you want to ramp the relaxing factor up a notch you can also throw in:

♥ Oil burner with bergamot oil, my favourite
♥ A dark room

Yolanda has a gentle, soothing voice and she comes across as a real sweetheart. For a woman in her late 50’s, she has a body that most women would in their 20’s would envy. I can feel her encouraging kindness traveling through the screen and into my living room when she softly says “good, that’s good” after many of the sequences, and I find it a comforting and reassuring addition to the practice.

The practice on both of the DVD’s is quite short – 30 minutes – but is enough to wind me down after a stressful or tiring day, it can also be used in the mornings to set you up for the day ahead and is a great way to ground yourself. In fact the length of the session is one of the best things about it, if you’re anything like me it can be hard to find an hour / hour and a half to head out to a yoga class, and that doesn’t include driving there and back! 30 minutes is just enough to be easily manageable, but also gain real results.

While this is by no means a cardio workout, there are some sections focusing on strength that are challenging, and the great thing about yoga is that because you’re working with your own strength and flexibility, there is always room for improvement as you begin to get stronger.

As Yolanda says “just do your best, and your best will get better” – I love that phrase!

Doing either of these yoga DVD’s leaves my whole body feeling stretched and relaxed, with a sense of peace and stillness of mind that I really look forward to. The class flies by and before you know it you’re lying in Savasana thinking how lucky you are to have this wonderful experience in your life.

She also has some meditation CD’s which are no doubt great (she has the perfect voice for it) and even her dogs have been convinced by her to try meditating 😉

Cost: $24.95 each, free shipping if you purchase more than one item
Suitable for: Beginners – experienced who are looking for a relaxation based yoga class with strength elements
Where to buy: http://www.yolandapettinato.com

If you have any questions about the DVD’s please let me know, I would be only too happy to answer them as I think I’m Yolanda’s new biggest fan!!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Hair Salon Review: Blackberries for Hair, East Perth.

I had been thinking about getting hair extensions for a little while now. As a lot had changed in my life recently, so I decided new hair was just what the doctor ordered!

I went into Blackberries for Hair in East Perth and had a free consultation with the owner, Evadney, who has been specialising in hair extensions for over 30 years. During the consultation she explained the various ways she can apply the hair and what she recommends based on your hair type. I decided to have the microlink technique with Russian hair.

My hair was looking rather unintentionally balayaged, so she gave me the option to go to my regular hairdresser with the sample of the hair to get my hair a more uniform colour so the hair extensions would blend better.

Evadney applied the microlink hair extensions by separating my hair into even triangle sections with the same amount of hair she clamps onto it. She explained if not enough of your hair is used and then a hair extension is attached which is too heavy, it can lead to your hair getting pulled out, the hair extension falling out or even bald spots!

Lucky for me Evadney is a perfectionist. Once all the hair extensions were expertly put in, she cut and blended my natural hair seamlessly into my new long hair. The whole process took about 4 hours. During this time I had a great chat with Evadney, watched a man get dreads, read some new magazines and learnt how to look after my new hair.

I’m so happy with my new long beautiful hair. I walked out of Blackberries feeling great, confident and a little bit like Rapunzel…

Blackberries is offering an October special, $550 for 120 strands of Russian hair instead of the usual price of $990 which I was very happy to take them up on!

Blackberries for Hair
3/74 Corner of Wellington St & Bennett Street
East Perth
(08) 6161 1431

Review by Jana Tann, aka Rapunzel!

Be well,

xoxo

Charity Exercise Event: Worlds Largest Pilates Class with Live Pilates, 23rd October 2011!

Fundraiser for the Sarah Gapp Cause.
This world record attempt is aimed to raise $30,000 for a young victim of severe stroke.

This is a highly worthy event and we will be attending! I hope as many of you as possible can make it down, take part in a fun pilates class, help break a world record and raise money to help Sarah on her recovery! x

Sarah before and after her tragic stroke.

Brisbane Law Student, Sarah Gapp, had a severe stroke in her brainstem only weeks after her 21st birthday. She had to have 60% of her cerebellum removed and was left with a condition called Locked in Syndrome, a tragic condition that leaves her perfectly aware mind unable to communicate with her body.

Only 1 in 100,000 people ever come out of locked in syndrome. Sarah’s will and determination has seen her defy the odds and regain some speech and movement.
With little support from the medical system Sarah desperately needs funds to learn to swallow and to walk, two things we take for granted every day.

Help LIVe Pilates raise $30,000 for Sarah by joining us from 9am-12pm to break the largest pilates class world record on the 23rd October. Be part of a community bringing hope to a true Aussie battler.
100% of funds raised go to helping Sarah.

Former Perth Lord Mayor and current Perth Councillor Candidate, Chas Hopkins, supports the Sarah Gapp Cause and community fitness. Mr Hopkins will be officially opening the event and will present the Perth community’s fundraising efforts to Sarah on the day.

For more details phone 9367 4299

Register today and be one of 1000 participants to break the current official world record of 862 for the world’s largest pilates class.

Register at http://www.livepilates.com.au/community/. Every participant receives a Gift Bag on the day!

Will you be making your way down this Sunday?

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Perth Exercise / Fitness Review: Step into Life, Various Locations!

First, a disclaimer. I love couch-bound movie days, a good sleep in, and I have never been fond of exercise leggings. But in January, something unusual happened: I embraced the spandex and started waking up at 5:40am three days a week to work out.

Gyms have never been for me. I found it was too easy to slack off on my own, and group fitness classes were too repetitive. My purse strings were too tight for a personal trainer and I wasn’t big on running around my local park (Hey there, busy main road! Check out my shameful fitness level!).

After an indulgent holiday period, I realised that if I wanted to get fit I’d either have to work up some killer commitment and motivation to do it myself, or find someone to kick my butt on a budget.

So I strolled down to my local park and became familiar with Step Into Life.

Despite the corny name, Step Into Life offers the benefits of a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost, in a friendly, non-judgemental group scenario. Sessions range from five people to 30 people of all different shapes, sizes, ages and fitness levels.

The hour-long sessions run Monday-Saturday in the mornings and evenings, suiting even the busiest of schedules. You can expect high-intensity sessions which tone, improve cardio fitness and even relieve stress (particularly the kickboxing class!). I’ve not yet done the same workout twice, so there’s no repetition unlike that fitness DVD you once used for a week straight before getting bored and letting it gather dust.

The big winner for me is training outdoors! Perth is blessed with awesome weather all year, so I feel it’s my duty to take advantage of it. The fresh air gets you going, even during chilly 6am starts in the middle of winter.

Prices depend on the franchise, but offer better value the more sessions you do a week. You generally sign up on a 3-monthly basis with direct debit or a one-off payment.

Cost vary between each franchise but my trainer in Carine charges:

$19/session/week if you do one session a week
$16/session ($32/week) if you do 2 sessions a week
$14/session ($42/week) if you do 3 sessions a week

Not sure if you want to commit? You can try it for FREE before you handover any of your hard earned moo-lah.

If you’re still in winter hibernation mode, challenge yourself. Start loving the sweat, the spandex and the outdoors and Step Into Life! I can guarantee within weeks of joining you’ll be checking out your guns in mirrors when no one’s around…not that I do that… 😉

To find out exactly what you can expect at one of the 20 franchises kicking butts in parks across Perth, and for information and contact details of your local trainer, visit www.stepintolife.com.au

Ph: (08) 9301 2351
Email: wa@stepintolife.com

Review by Gemma Clark, recent master of sit-ups.