by Annette @ Wellness WA | May 11, 2020 | Food, Recipes, Wellness Tips
♥ Creamy, dreamy & delicious!
Let’s face it, while we’d all love to take a trip to a wellness retreat once a month (just me?), sometimes funds, work, day-to-day life or Coronavirus just wont allow us the regularity of retreating that we definitely deserve.
That’s why building retreat-style rituals into your week is the perfect way to dial up your zen, infuse your body with much needed nutrients and give yourself a couple of minutes time out.
Today we chatted to the gorgeous Shelley Pryor, organic gardener & smoothie expert at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, to find out her top glowing smoothie recommendation that will get you glowing.
Check it out and leave a comment below if you try the recipe! x
Shelley’s Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
♥ 1 x young coconut, juice (approx. 400ml) and flesh (if you can’t find a fresh young coconut, regular coconut water can be substituted, and Amazonia do a frozen coconut meat sachet)
♥ 3 x oranges, peeled and chopped, seeds removed
♥ 2 x cups ripe pineapple, diced
♥ 2 x limes, juiced
♥ 1 x piece of fresh ginger, approx. 4cm, sliced
♥ 20 x mint leaves or lemon balm/lemon verbena
♥ 1/2 x avocado, flesh scooped out
Optional extra: Add a 5cm piece of Aloe Vera, well drained and rinsed to add amazing benefits for your digestive system and help make your skin glow.
Place all ingredients except the avocado in a blender and process until smooth. Add the diced avocado and blend again.
Serves 4 (approx. 150ml per serve)
Health Benefits
Pineapple is particularly great as an anti-inflammatory. It is rich in vitamin C, supports the immune system and aids in the production of collagen.
Coconut water is a delicious source of hydration and mint is great for digestion. Coconut is a good source of medium chain triglycerides, known to be important for liver and bowel health.
Note: During Summer switch the pineapple for mango!
Are you keen to try this glow-inducing smoothie? Let us know below!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | May 4, 2020 | At Home, Other, Wellness Tips
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From primers and BB creams, through the latest eyeshadow palettes and vegan lipsticks, to a huge variety of makeup brushes and dewy mists – figuring out how to organize your beauty cabinet can be a difficult, time-consuming, and not-very-fun task.
We’re here to help! There are a few effective ways to limit the beauty product mess to a minimum. Follow our top tips on how to keep your beauty cabinet organised and save a ton of time on your morning routine.
Clean out Your Beauty Collection
The first and most important thing is to clean all of your beauty products and to get rid of the ones that have expired. Take every product you own out of its drawer, cabinet, etc. Yes, that means even the ones you keep in the shower. Spread them out and get rid of all the ones that have expired or have duplicates. After all, you probably don’t need to have five brown mascaras. Also, get rid of everything that you’ve bought impulsively and you’re never going to use. For anything that’s still in date and unused, consider gifting to friends or even your local women’s shelter.
Everyday/Special Occasions
Аfter you’ve gotten rid of everything you don’t need, it’s time to sort everyday items from speciality items. Organise your products into two categories – things that you use daily and items that are a bit more luxe that you save for special occasions.
We recommend storing these top-notch products (think your LA Mer foundation & Rae Morris brushes) which you save for date nights, New Year’s celebrations and special events, in a dedicated makeup pouch and keep it away from all the rest. Gorman have some really cute options. In addition, it’s a good idea to have another pouch for all of your travel toiletries, so the next time you’re going on a trip you won’t spend hours packing!
Evaluate Your Space
Take a hard, honest look at how much space you’ve got. Do you share a small space in the bathroom with your roommates, or have a huge vanity just to yourself? This step is extremely important because you may need to adjust how many products you can keep out in the open (we know, it sucks). If you have a little space, keep only the most important daily items on your shelf. The rest of them you can find some creative ways to organise. For example, you can buy transparent containers from K-Mart, IKEA, or Howards Storage World if you want to get fancy.
Use Containers and Labels
The availability to see your entire collection and easily access it is essential. This will help you keep your beauty cabinet organised since you won’t have to go through the entire assortment to find something. Makeup organizers that have adjustable dividers can be your new best friend. They’ll help you better organise your makeup collection as it grows or shrinks. You can put different labels and decorations on each compartment.
Divide and Conquer
You can use the same organizer for all your beauty products. However, we would recommend you to use separate ones to ensure everything has its own place and stays super easy to find.
For example, you can use one container for your brushes and divide them into the following categories: face, eyes and lips. Another one for all your skin-care products, a third one got your lipstick and lip gloss collection. The main container with your everyday makeup you can keep on top of your beauty cabinet and the other ones inside the cabinet drawers.
Final Steps
It’s time to put everything together. Arrange the containers with your everyday products front and centre. If any of your everyday beauty products comes in an enormous bottle, you can transfer some of it into a pretty little bottle that will look much better of your shelf. The same goes for cotton swabs and cotton balls. They can go into chic, small boxes that can pass as decor.
Following all these tips will get you well & truly on your way to a nicely organised beauty cabinet. It will not only ensure that your countertop won’t become a huge cluttered mess but also it will save you a ton of time when you’re getting ready to go out!
Jane Wilson is a marketing and social manager, a mom and a blogger from Melbourne. Her interests in home improvement come from an earliest age, she loves engaging in different remodeling projects, as well as creating her own natural cleaning solutions. She manages the local brand of Fantastic Cleaners, and she owns a small blog called Modern Housewives, where she shares all kinds of tips and recipes.
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Apr 27, 2020 | Interviews, Organic
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First up, briefly tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!
Hi, I’m Lisa, founder of KIND-LY. We’re a natural deodorant brand that is vegan, cruelty-free, Aussie made and uses only natural and organic ingredients. Our award-winning range of natural deodorants are enriched with probiotics and magnesium and we also have a fabulous product called The Armpit Detox, which is similar to a mud mask for your face, but goes on your pits! It’s a great companion to assist in the transition to natural deodorant.
What’s your morning routine to set you up for a great day?
Business start up life means on a typical morning I’m awake at 6:00am. Over breakfast I usually start responding to emails, checking overnight orders through the website and plan out some social media posts for the week. I find it’s easiest to get through quite a bit of work early in the day before the official workday starts which allows for a less stressful day.
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Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?
The major non-negotiable when it comes to my daily beauty routine, is of course natural deodorant! My KIND-LY 100% Natural Deodorant is the first thing applied every morning after a shower. I keep the rest of my routine quite simple with natural skincare products for my face and body. It can be overwhelming (and expensive) trying to switch every product you use to an all-natural option, however, I’ve found it easiest to begin with the products you use the most on the daily or applied to your body and then work outwards.
Do you have an evening wind-down ritual?
A good cup of tea and an Epsom salts bath is a great way to wind-down of an evening.
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What are your top 3 wellness non-negotiables?
♥ Natural/organic food and products for body and home;
♥ A positive mindset;
♥ Relaxation and disconnecting from the digital world for some regular down time.
What’s your fitness routine & favourite way to get sweaty and where’s your go-to?
I don’t have a fixed fitness routine as such and it really does vary depending on my schedule, mood and weather! Yoga and a simple walk around my neighbourhood will do just fine for me most of the time! Any activity that I can incorporate into my normal day is much more appealing to me, rather than a fixed routine or having to go to the gym.
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Are you into any woo-woo wellness trends? (think crystals, sageing, tarot cards etc)
I’ve recently started my crystal collection and have been enjoying gradually adding new pieces to my home and learning about the benefits of each stone. Not only do crystals look beautiful as a décor item, but they also bring a lovely positivity and energy into your space.
And lastly… do you have any top secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
Looking and feeling great really does start from within and a positive mindset and inner belief in yourself can have an impact on all areas of your life. When you’re feeling confident and happy within yourself you will also be more inclined to want to make positive changes in other aspects of your life as well.
Thank you so much, Lisa, for taking part in our wellbeing routine series! If you have any questions for Lisa, please leave them below and make sure you check them out on Instagram here: @kind_ly
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Apr 22, 2020 | At Home, Products
♥ Check out that PUMP!
I don’t think I’ve ever been excited about a pump before. A pumpkin spice latte, sure, but a pump on a beauty product? No.
Biossance 100% Squalane Oil is the owner of this much-heralded – by me – pump, and the product itself is a triple threat as it’s an insanely nourishing oil that’s suitable for body, face AND hair, plus is shark-friendly and 100% vegan.
The pump is the perfect size for your finger to press, and delicate enough to allow precise distribution of this nourishing oil. Seriously, this bad boy is ergonomic. I honestly feel like thousands of hours have gone into the creation of this DREAM PUMP. I’m going to stop ranting about it now, because it’s honestly getting a little weird, but suffice to say once this bottle runs out I Will Most Definitely Be using it for any other oils that I have that happen to be housed in inferior packaging.
Pumps aside, the other thing I love about this oil is that there are no preservatives, it’s 100% squalane, and at 100ml it’s extremely generously sized so you can go bananas and not scrimp on slathering your face and body with it.
Many forms of squalane are derived from shark livers, yes really, and as someone who tries to live a cruelty free life to the best of my ability I have absolutely NO interest in that, and hopefully you feel the same way. Biossance claims to save over 2 million sharks per year via their sugarcane-derived method of squalane extraction and frankly I’m here for it.
I like to use this product in the evening post-cleansing and exfoliating. I spend some time slowly massaging it into my face after a warm shower, then massage my breasts, hands, elbows, feet (pop on some socks after for extra benefit) and any other dry spots. Due to how lightweight this oil is a little goes a long way, which makes it even better value for money. And did I mention the glow? How could I not. You’ll wake up in the morning with perfectly plump, hydrated skin – and knowing it’s from a product that’s 100% natural will only make you even happier about it.
For me, this oil is now a must-have in my nightly routine. Find it online at sephora.com.au for $50 AUD.
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Feb 19, 2020 | Interviews
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First up, briefly tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!
I am a two time Olympian. My sport is distance running- 5,000m and 10,000m on the track. I am Co-Founder of the Love Mercy Foundation which I started with fellow Olympic runner Julius Achon from Uganda. We seek to empower the poor in Northern Uganda through sustainable projects, allowing families and communities to create their own livelihood through farming, education and access to health care. I am a wife to Jonathan and a mum to 6 year old India with another baby on the way – due in November!
What time do you wake up most days and how many hours of sleep do you aim for?
When I’m in full training and racing mode, I wake up at around 6am and I aim for at least 8 hours sleep a night. I always try and have a nap between hard workouts when I’m training up to three times a day, I find just 20 mins of just putting my feet up even if I can’t sleep, helps a lot with energy levels for my evening training session. Now that I’m heavily pregnant and not training hard I’m still aiming for a similar amount of sleep but this can be tricky when it gets uncomfortable towards the end of pregnancy. To compensate for this, I try and not make my days so full so that if I don’t sleep much the night before, I can at least try and get some rest during the day.
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Describe a typical day of eating for you.
♥ Breakfast – porridge with honey and a banana, or if I’m about to go for a run I have two boiled eggs on sourdough with a cup of tea
♥ Morning tea – a handful of raw almonds and another piece of fruit and a plain Greek yoghurt
♥ Lunch – A sandwich with chicken and salad or a salad with rice, chicken and veggies
♥ Afternoon tea – A piece of toast with peanut butter or avocado or another banana cut up and dipped in cashew nut butter
♥ Dinner – Lean meat (steak or fish) with veggies and rice or potatoes. Or lately in this last trimester I’ve really been craving pasta and my husband makes a really good pesto pappadelle!
♥ Dessert – if I can fit it in is another plain Greek yogurt or some dark chocolate with a peppermint tea.
Lately I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to go back to sleep unless I have something to eat (common in the third trimester of pregnancy) so I’ll have a banana which usually does the trick.
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Do you take any supplements, vitamins or special wellness elixirs? If so, we’d love to know!
When I’m not pregnant and I’m in full training I will supplement my diet on a daily basis with energy booster Ubiquinol – it’s the active form of co-enzyme Q10, a powerful antioxidant, vital for healthy cells and responsible for the energy production of cells in our body. It helps my recovery and fights feelings of fatigue. Magnesium is also a great option for inflammation and achy muscles when you start getting back into exercise.
Another favourite supplement is Revvies energy strips for a fast, convenient and effective energy hit before hard workouts and races. Always trial new caffeine or nutritional products in training before using them in a race.
Do you have an evening wind-down ritual?
For relaxation at the end of the day my husband and I will binge on an easy watching Netflix series or read a good book. Right now on Netflix we’re watching The Letdown and Money Heist, and I’m reading ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates – an inspiring book about her journey of empowering women out of poverty in developing countries through her foundation.
What are your top 3 wellness non-negotiables
♥ Eat mostly unprocessed foods
♥ Supplement diet with things I know will help my energy levels – Ubiquinol and magnesium.
♥ Spend lots of time with people I love 💕
Your absolute favourite healthy cafe in NSW is?
I love Buck Hamblin cafe in Thirroul, a coastal town about 30 mins drive from where I live. Bucks have the best coffee on the south coast of Sydney and the most amazing menu – my favourite in the winter is the porridge with poached fruit and cinnamon and then in the summer-time I love the poached chicken salad with nuts, greens and grains for a healthy lunch.
Best place to get a green juice or smoothie in your city?
So Fresh Cronulla make the best fresh juices in Sydney. They also do antioxidant shots with turmeric and ginger to help reduce inflammation in the body.
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What’s your fitness routine & favourite way to get sweaty and where’s your go-to?
Obviously running! It’s so energising for me. I feel free when I run. I love running with a group of running mates and I love an occasional run on my own just to clear my head. The best thing I love about running is that you can run literally anywhere and it’s so time efficient for getting fit and feeling healthy in your body and your mind.
If you could only wear one brand of activewear for the rest of your life it would be…
Adidas is my go-to brand for active wear. I’ve worn a lot of different brands Over the last 20 years of my running career and Adidas’ quality is second to none. I still have my fave Adidas kits that I was wearing 10 years ago! I love the street wear vibes in their originals range too and for running and workout shoes the boost technology makes you feel like you are running on clouds!
What’s the one beauty or wellness treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I love a facial from my friends at our local skin care spa called Beauty and Balance in Cronulla. I feel like a new woman when I leave and my skin looks and feels super refreshed and revitalised.
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What’s your dream wellness vacay?
I love Fiji for a revitalising holiday. There’s just something about the people, the culture and the slower pace of life that makes you feel immediately relaxed, even from the moment you land at the airport. No one ever seems hurried in Fiji and it’s so refreshing. We love to spend a week just in Denarau, I run on the golf course every morning and then come home for fresh coconuts and we’ll hit the pool or take a chartered boat out to cloudbreak where my husband likes to surf. Indi and I swim around jumping off the boat and have a picnic lunch whilst we watch ‘Daddy surf’. We’ll get back in time for a mid afternoon nap and then head to one of the amazing resort restaurants for dinner. There’s also the mud baths at the foot of one of the mountains that we like to frequent each time we go, you rub the volcanic mud all over your skin and then wash it off in the bath and it has an incredible cleansing affect, then you’ll be treated to a massage under the mango tree by the local massage therapists. Fiji is my all time most relaxing holiday!
Thanks Eloise for sharing your routine with us!
Be well,
xoxo
