♥

Laughing is good for your health. There is a veritable roll call of measurable benefits to be gained from having a giggle, such as…

♥ Reduction of stress hormones, increase in feel-good hormones like endorphins
♥ Physical & emotional release
♥ Workout for the heart & internal organs
♥ Distraction from problems
♥ Connection with others

With this in mind and on the hunt for something different to do on a Friday night with a friend, I stumbled across Friday Night Stand Up @ Lazy Susans Comedy Den, at The Brisbane.

I’d never been to The Brisbane before and found it to be a delightful and elegantly styled ‘pub’ / venue. The Comedy Den is located upstairs (you just have to traverse what must be the steepest staircase in all of Perth to reach it!)

We were seated in a really cute room reminiscent of Seinfeld, as I and other audience members noted and at 8.30pm the acts started. There were three comedians & a host (who was also, surprise surprise, a comedian!)

Here are my thoughts about the evening in general: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!

It was the best night out I’ve had in ages, my cheeks were hurting from laughing so much. All of the comedians were fantastic and I would honestly recommend it to EVERYONE I know. The performers vary from week to week, some of them are Perth based and others are touring acts. All are designed to get you chortling, which they do!

I should note that there were plenty of swear words, politically incorrect jokes and references to sex, so if this offends, it’s probably best to give this comedy night a miss.

Friday Night Standup costs $18 (you can book at BOCS or tickets on the door if there are any left) and it went for a little over two hours. Well worth the money and I left with a huge smile and, I’m sure, plenty of endorphins racing around my body!

Lazy Susans Comedy Den runs comedy nights Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday! So you have no excuse not to get some humour & good health into your week!

I’m not sure who Lazy Susan actually is, but she’s 130% onto a winner.

Upstairs @ the Brisbane Hotel
Cnr Brisbane & Beaufort St
Highgate Perth, WA 6003

Email: solongley@yahoo.com

Tel: (08) 9328 2543

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Virtual Reality Therapy (photo supplied by Vision Counselling)

Always up for something new in the quest for stress reduction and wellbeing, a few weeks ago I decided to take part in some Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT). It sounded pretty “space age” and my initial thoughts drifted to popping on some goggles and talking to a robot therapist who would then magically remove all stress from my life.

While only half of my dream bubble came true (I’ll have to find a robot therapist ELSEWHERE!), I was quite delighted by my VRT experience and will explain my findings to you below, cos that’s what I’m here for!

I chose the Stress Reduction VRT, they also have one to assist with quitting smoking.

♥ The therapist, Katie Larkin, explained the whole process thoroughly, I signed some forms to indicate I didn’t have any conditions that may make VRT inappropriate, for example, it is not recommended for severely claustrophobic individuals, although I have to note that I am slightly claustrophobic, however was completely fine during the session.

♥ Seated in a very comfy chair with my legs up and cushions to snuggle into, I put on the VR goggles & headphones. The video started and I was transported to a world where there are gardens, monks, flowing rivers, birds and a tale being narrated about all of the above…

♥ After a while, some hypnotic spirals start integrating into the visual track, after this it gets a little hazy but I’ll do my best to remember!

♥ I’m asked to imagine leaving my body, and am now without the constraints of time & distance (so says my narrator!), so I travel to Northern China to meet with the monks in their garden & monastery.

♥ Travelling across space & time was my favourite part of the whole experience, I was really in the moment and it just felt really ‘right’ and possible, as peculiar as that may sound. In my semi-hypnotised state, I spent some time with the monks reflecting, breathing and being.

♥ I don’t really remember the point where I had to come back to full consciousness, but I definitely didn’t want to go to work afterwards! I felt very calm, relaxed and like I could possibly go to sleep again right then and there!

Overall it was a very positive experience that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend, however at $100 for an hour session it is expensive. That said it is a therapy generally used in conjunction with counseling to address issues on a conscious level as well as subconscious (VRT), so I would suggest it to be suitable for those who are struggling with issues such as stress management, depression & anxiety, or trying to break habits, such as smoking.

Alternatively, if you have money to spare & are keen to try different forms of relaxation then definitely give this a whirl! A course of 4-6 is recommended to see longer lasting benefits.

Therapist: Katie Larkin
Location: Vision Counselling

Vivacious Living Centre
Upper Floor
9 Riseley Square
Applecross WA 6153
Perth, Western Australia

Phone: 0424 298 005
Email: visioncounselling@live.com.au
Website: http://www.visioncounselling.com.au

Be well,

xoxo

♥

Good morning and welcome to the week! If you look out the window Today I’m sure you’ll notice the cool, grey clouds that are hovering over our lovely city.

The seasons are certainly changing and with it, I feel a definite shift in my mind and body. When Winter comes, our animal friends slow down and many go into hibernation. Mating is no longer the priority, as the change in season flicks a switch to tell them that now is the time to eat lots to get fat for Winter and prepare for a long snooze to preserve energy!

I think that these kind of changes occur within us as well, we are after all animals too – albeit clothed, with iPhones & french manicures, but at our core we are the same as our hibernating friends. When the seasons switch I always feel a sense of change and unrest in my body, maybe you do too.

I’ve found myself eating more lately and reflecting internally, I am getting ready to sleep for 3 months (if only)!

So I thought I’d start the week with that little idea to ponder.

In other news, I had a fabulous weekend & have a few pieces of info to share with you!

♥ Blush Day Spa has completed the big move from Leederville to North Fremantle & can now be found at:

Address: 76/80 Stirling Highway, North Fremantle, Western Australia 6195
Phone: +61 (08) 9335 5600

♥ The 3 Months to Glow thread is one of my all-time favourite Vogue Forum discussions. I check it out when I’m wanting some inspiration for glowy skin, which is pretty much always!

♥ WELLNESS WA COMPETITION! We’ve had an amazing response so far, but it’s still running til the end of April, so get your entries in and you could be the chuffed owner of a $100 Ella Express Voucher! There is 3 to win so hop to it 🙂

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

♥ Kit ♥

What a beauty.

KIT Cosmetics, the packaging and branding says it all. The wide selection of skincare, body and make-up products are a delight and will make any girl clap her hands excitedly and giggle with glee.

I found myself at the KIT nail polish stand. “Top Gear” pastel purple and “Winner Takes” baby pink, went in the shopping bag. $15.95 each and with an endless array of shades that have names like “Go Get ’em Girl”, it’s difficult to stop at just two.

I was in the market for a good body wash and KIT has the most luscious range of body washes. I am a sucker for fruity scents and the Fresh Pear, Crisp Apple and Vanilla Body Wash ($22.95) sounded right up my alley. One sniff of the combo and I was hooked. This little incentive in the shower makes waking up early in the morning for work that tiny bit easier. They also gave me the matching moisturiser in two sample containers, which I love.

In the same range, they have Pomegranate and Pink Grapefruit, ($22.95) which according to the sale girls is the most popular and Red Current and Raspberry Leaf ($22.95) which is part of the kick-start your morning kit.

My other purchase at KIT was the Lip and Cheek Tint ($22.95). Applied to the cheeks it makes for a playful shade and on the lips, your pout is perfected. It’s a convenient size to carry in the handbag and a perfect quick-fix make-up solution in between meetings.

Other Kit products I am eager to try are the Korres Yoghurt Cream Moisturiser ($52.95) and the Too Faced Brow Envy Kit ($64.95) for immaculate brows and a direct ticket to eyebrow swoon town.

Love KIT? Have you checked out the new Enex100 KIT store? Any other stores in Enex100 you’re loving? Seen a cute courier recently and want to let us know? Comment below! x

Article by Kelly-Anne Wong, Kit obsessed Miss.

♥ Yoga Doggy! ♥

Today my friend and I had a Body Balance date all lined up and ready to go. When we arrived, the disinterested receptionists informed us that there was in fact no class due to it being Easter weekend, surely we need exercise more at this time than any other?! Alas, it was not to be.

But my friend is an inspirational little bunny and suggested we head over to the park and do our own workout, something that I probably wouldn’t have thought of.

So we went to a nearby oval and created our own yoga / body balance / light strength training workout for about 20-30 minutes and I have to say that the sun, pups, breeze, birds and grass, along with the light exercise, did me a world of good.

We could have easily gone home and given up, but we DIDN’T! It’s really inspired me to do spontaneous / proactive things like this more often and I hope that the next time you don’t get to your workout class for whatever reason, you consider making up your own – after all, you probably know most of the moves already! I promise you’ll love it 🙂

Be well,

xoxo