by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 13, 2011 | Food
♥
While in Melbourne recently I attended the Mind Body Spirit Expo and was soon negotiating my way round the usual maze of crystals, lotions and psychics. About half way through, just as my feet were threatening divorce from my body, I stumbled across a stand for the Farmers Market at the Melbourne Showground. Okay, I’ll admit the initial attraction had nothing to do with the fresh produce, impressive though it was, no my attraction was the small group of empty plastic chairs in front of the display.
Slumping into the end seat, I closed my eyes and was only vaguely aware of the demonstration taking place. But then I heard the phrase, ‘Fruitballs’ and visions of old Carry on Camping movies morphed with the South Park chef in my brain. Opening my eyes I saw a reasonably sane middle aged woman in a deep state of rapture about her vegan fruity balls. Health treats, hmmm, I wasn’t convinced. More like sawdust balls I thought, as I watched her roll the mixture into shape, place them on a tasting tray and send the tray off into the audience.
With only six of us in the audience and thirty balls on the plate there was nowhere to hide. So when the tray came round I reluctantly popped a fruity ball into my mouth. It was delicious and the perfect sweet injection to help me continue round the rest of the show. I thought I’d bring the recipe home to WA. It’s only fair if the other states take our sporting events, I’ll take their fruity balls.
♥ ½ cup of walnuts
♥ ½ cup of dates
♥ ½ cup of seeds (pumpkin, sunflower or mixed)
♥ 2 tablespoons of carob powder or cocoa powder
♥ 2 tablespoons of honey (or vegan alternative, eg. agave)
♥ Shredded coconut
Raisins can be substituted for the dates, but not sultanas as they are too small. I thought I’d add in some dried apricots. Place all the ingredients in a food processor and whizz it up until it is a good texture, i.e. a crummy, sticky mixture that holds together. Take bites size pieces and roll them in the palm of your hand into a ball. Then roll and push the coconut onto the ball. The big challenge is to stop at one. Enjoy the guilt-free sweetness.
Review by Glennys Marsdon – author, blogger, consumer behaviourist who’s spent a lifetime researching why we do what we do, but still hasn’t worked out Hollywood tap.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 12, 2011 | Beauty Salon, Inner City, North of River, Reviews, South of River
♥
Being Spanish, and suitably hairy (as my lineage implies) I am always on the look out for new and less painful forms of hair removal, and ever since I first heard about the exotic art of Threading, it has intrigued me. So whilst browsing through the Browne’s Every Woman Expo in Perth last weekend I took full advantage of the free demonstration being offered by Zubia’s Threading!
Now, before I start my review I have a little confession. This is hard to admit on a beauty and wellness website, but it’s vital to showcase just how good this treatment is. *deep breath* I haven’t waxed, plucked or touched by eyebrows for six months. *shudder* This was not a pretty sight.
Being in the middle of an expo and in a line of about five other ladies, the environment was not really conducive to a soothing and relaxing mood that one normally expects from salons. However, I assume this would be very different when having an appointment in store.
Sitting down in the chair, my technician went straight to work on cleaning up the tops of my brows, this I barely felt and was over in less than 2 mins. The next bit was a tad odd. In order to thread the arches, you’re required to place one hand above the top of your brow and one hand over your eye and pull the skin tight while your unwanted hairs are removed, just as quick and almost as painless as the tops!
I was up out of the chair less than ten minutes later and completely overjoyed with my new brows, the technician not only removed all unwanted hair but completely reshaped them and opened my eyes up. There was absolutely no redness and I was ready to go! This was the most quick and pleasant hair removal experience I have ever had!
My new threaded brows!
“Threading uses a pure cotton thread that is twisted and skilfully manipulated to gently lift the hair off the follicle. The pain is far less than waxing and provides a more accurate shape. Unlike waxing, where you often find Houdini hair that dodge elimination, not a stray hair remains and you are left with a perfectly shaped brow.” – Scoop Magazine.
The main Pro’s I found with Threading as opposed to waxing and plucking are;
♥ Much, much, much, much, much less pain – the best I can describe is it’s like a light scratching/tickling
♥ Very, very, very, very, very minimal to no redness – YAY NO REDNESS!!!
♥ Superior lines and smoother contours – I’m guessing this is due to the thread being able to create a smoother line and more accurate shape
♥ Super quick – I hadn’t had my brows done in 6 months and it still took less than 10 mins!
♥ The $19 price tag is pretty attractive too.
Zubia’s Threading is located all over Perth and both walk-in and appointments are welcome, head to their website for all locations.
Review by L, your ultimate style icon and resident cat lady.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 9, 2011 | Food, Organic, Products, Reviews, South of River
♥
A Sunday must!
There’s something I do almost every Sunday morning that makes my heart sing and puts a spring in my step. I visit the amazing Growers Green Community Market at South Fremantle Senior High School and my week ahead is always better for it.
Here everyone is invited, all ages and their dogs are welcomed with open arms! While freshly face painted children climb the trees or dance to the band and the dogs wag their tails at each other, you will be amazed at what you can find.
My first stop was Miss Bolly’s Adventures in Spice where you can slurp on chai, fresh lemonade or a spicy ginger and lime soda. Next as I wandered past the delightful selection of breads and pastries I tried a scrumptious garlic prawn from Fremantle Market Seafood.
♥
Next I stumbled upon Kara Orchard from Karagullen that thanks to its huge selection of fruit and veg, always does a roaring trade. Then on to ‘RAW Juice’ where Rene will happily let you taste test. Whilst the juice with kale and lemon didn’t tickle my tastebuds the organic ‘Tiger’ with carrot, ginger and cinnamon did, so too the watermelon, strawberry and apple. Mmmmmmm!
However if you just want a cuppa then help yourself to a communal coffee cup and just wash it up when you are finished, this really sums up the vibe of the market.
♥
There are foods from almost every corner of the world. Mother and daughter team Anna & Iliana hand make Salvadorian Pupases with cheese and red kidney beans, or tamales with chicken, potato and olives wrapped in a banana leaf – exotic! Elsewhere there are Portuguese Empada’s and Tucha, Turkish & Greek delights, crepes and so very much more. One of my new favourites is from ‘Heritage Hogs’ in Brookton who serve free range pork and goat burgers with homemade tomato salsa or apple and ginger sauce – delicious!
P&G Burger.
Also, totally inspired, I purchased 5 plants for $15 from ‘Herbs are Us’. Now my garden is stocked with kale, lemongrass, thyme, oregano and basil and all the advice I needed.
Thank you Growers Green Farmers Market you really are the highlight of my week that is why I keep coming back again and again I think readers should too!
Growers Green Community Market
South Fremantle High School, Lefroy rd, South Fremantle.
Winter opening hours 8:30am – 12:30pm. Big market first Sunday of every month, regular market for the rest of the month.
Review by Kristy Mollica freelance TV and radio presenter, lover of girl power, farmers markets & things that are so totally not beige!
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 7, 2011 | Wellness Tips
♥
Hello loves! It’s a bumper crushes edition this time around so lets get started, shall we?
Best.
♥ Decaff Green Tea
I love this stuff. I honestly see such a difference in my skin when I’m gulping down 2-3 cups per day. Winter is the perfect time to start a green tea habit too! I’m caffeine sensitive, which is why I go for decaff, but if you need a bit of pep in the morning / afternoon then feel free to go for the zinged up version. Decaff is a little better for you though!
I have tried Tetleys and didn’t rate it at all! If you can find the Clipper version (usually in good health shops) you’ll be much happier with the tea quality. Number one crush-ola!
♥ Natalie Portman’s Skin
While this one may seem a little creepy, I don’t think there’s many people who would argue that she has some of the clearest, glowiest skin in Hollywood / the world. After watching ‘No Strings Attached’ last weekend, I’m once again swooning pretty hard for her. The other great thing is that she is a vegetarian (sometimes vegan). If I could have anyones skin it would be Ms Portmans. /end creepiness.
♥ Meditation classes
I’ve been taking part in meditation classes for the past few weeks and am completely enjoying it. We even had to connect up with a ‘meditation buddy’ during the first week, and mine has been texting and checking up on me regularly – which makes it so much easier to get into practice at home. I’m loving the learning experience, and might post a little more about this at a later date when the course is finished, however I find that after class I’m really inspired to make healthy choices in my life and feeling much more calm and present.
♥ Getting my hair cut after nearly a year
I’m pretty naughty with my hair, but after my great cut and colour at Head Studio, King Street, I plan to do something with it (AT LEAST GET TRIMS!) every 3 months. I am a little shy to post a pic!
♥
♥ Lush – Rehab (guest crush by Kelly-Anne!)
If you’re like me, you wash your hair every second day and put your hair through a big list of chemicals that aren’t ‘organic’ or ‘vegan’ or ‘environmentally friendly’. However, we all want that boost of shine that we get from those long list of said chemicals, so whats a gal/guy to do?
Well Lush comes to the rescue, with their ‘Rehab’ shampoo. Once you lather this goodness in your hair, you’ll feel the natural ingredients pouring into your scalp. A sensible way of putting your hair into ‘rehab’ shall we say.
The ingredients include fresh organic juices of a papaya, pineapple and kiwi, fresh tropical mango, light vegetable oils of jojoba, olive and almond to repair the damage of the long-term effects of your ‘shall not be named’ shampoo. The blend of essential oils of rose, rosemary, lavender, juniper berry and peppermint balances your gentle scalp and gives your hair a well-needed break.
What are your current crushes? I have a heap more to share next week too!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 4, 2011 | Cheap / Free, Reviews
Aspirin. For myself and I’m sure, readers, this is synonymous with pain relief. However, there is a growing trend of using it in an entirely different way – as a face mask!
Aspirin is less commonly known as acetylsalicylic acid, a derivative of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a key component of various products used in the treatment of skin-related issues, including acne. Increasingly, budget beauty babes and home DIYers are using aspirin as a cheap, at-home face mask. Online beauty forums are filled with testimonials proclaiming the benefits of the ‘Aspirin Face Mask’ to combat redness, acne, pimples, oily skin and large pores, though there is some debate as to whether the mask works as a manual or chemical exfoliant.
As I have quite oily skin that has the tendency to break out a bit, with large pores and patches of rough skin on my nose and chin (I sound hideous! It’s not too bad 🙂 ), I decided to try it out for myself.
♥
From the internet, most people use 2 – 6 tablets per mask. I used 4 and crushed them to a fine powder in baking paper, using a small hammer. A few ‘bits’ were remaining in mine, and it made application slightly difficult.
Next, I mixed in about 5 drops of water. The amount depends on how runny you want your mask to be. Keep in mind that if it is too liquid or too dry, application will be tricky.
Mixy mixy.
The reviews advised using mixers such as water, aloe vera, honey, rose hip oil, witch hazel and cleansers such as Cetaphil. I decided to slather half my face with just aspirin and water and the other half with aspirin, water and about 4 drops of honey. I found that the mixture with honey was a LOT easier to apply – it was much less gritty and foamy and had more of a soft, gel texture.
Aspirin face!
After about 20 minutes, I washed off the mask with warm water. To me, there wasn’t any real difference between the two sides of my face. My skin was extremely smooth and soft – I couldn’t get over how silky it felt! The rough patches on my chin and nose were significantly reduced (although not gone completely) and while I couldn’t see any difference in pore size, my skin was definitely less oily. It is enough of a difference that I will definitely be using it again in the future.
The Nitty Gritty
Cost:
24 Pack Aspro Clear from Coles = $3.58 (4 tablets per mask = $0.60 per mask)
Honey – cheapest = approx. $0.65 per 100g (many, many uses per bottle)
Pros:
♥ cheap as chips (possibly cheaper, depending on any penchant for gourmet chips!)
♥ instant results
♥ fun fizzing sensation during application
Cons:
♥ slightly time consuming and a bit fiddly
♥ the water and aspirin mixture was a bit difficult to apply
♥ was a tad sticky, due to the honey and the saccharin sodium (I think)
♥ may not be ideal if you have dry or sensitive skin
Recommended Usage:
I would recommend that you only use this mask once a week at most. It was granular and slightly abrasive, so probably not great if you have sensitive skin unless you crush the tablets up VERY finely. In addition, some reports on the Internet stated that it is possible to build up a tolerance to the chemical properties of the mask.
Rating:
3.5 / 5
Review by Cassandra, beauty lover on a student budget and soon to be regional (Pilbara) correspondent!
Be well,
xoxo
