by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 15, 2012 | Alternative Therapy, Food, Products, Wellness Tips
♥
Crushes are abound this week! And I’m excited to share with you the top 5 things that are making my body sing with delight, as always I’d love you to share what’s making YOU go yay this week – so please leave a comment below and share the good feelings!
♥ Organic Muesli & Coconut Water for Breakfast
I’m not much of a cold cereal girl. Give me porridge or a green smoothie and I’m good to go. So I’m not sure what drew me to this organic muesli when I spied it on the shelf, but I knew it had to be mine. With all organic ingredients and not a preservative in sight, I was very happy to discover that it is also incredibly tasty. Sulphite free dried apricots, raisins, coconut, sunflower seeds, almonds and pumpkin seeds are all added goodies which make this super delicious. My breakfast this morning was a triple whammy of organic goodness, with the muesli + C coconut water + soy milk all being of non-pesticide origin.
As an added bonus this brekky made me feel awesome and gave me lots of sustained energy. It’s a keeper!
♥
♥ Eskal Raspberry Vegan Chocolate
Sweet baby hound dogs this stuff is delish. I’m always on the hunt for healthy chocolate alternatives; and this raspberry dark chocolate treat definitely does the trick. So much so in fact that the three blocks that I was sent for consideration all managed to disappear within the space of a week… “Dark chocolate is good for your health!”. The bitter-sweetness of the chocolate, mixed with the crushed up bits of raspberry make this my latest fave. YUM!
♥
♥ Iridology and VLA and Naturopathy Consultation at Endota
Things got a little Frankenstein-y when my current naturopath, Marnie Downer, ran the verrrry interesting VLA test on me! I learned that for optimal health and wellness I should put on 4 kilos (!!!) – 3 of them muscle, 1 fat. I also found out that my cells were all nice and plump, which is a good thing. And that my cellular age is 26 (I’m currently 27.999), but we can get this down even further if I get my muscle mass up. Marnie operates out of Endota Spa Perth CBD & also a clinic in Mt Lawley. I will be doing a more thorough review soon, so stay tuned!
♥
♥ Sauna and Steam Room
One of my favourite parts of going to the gym is heading to the steam room and sauna after I’ve taken a yoga class, completed my mini weights routine or done my Couch-to-5K session! I absolutely love, love, love the glow that my skin gets afterwards, and I find that it completely relaxes me and I feel great for the rest of the evening. The only thing is that I’ve found I don’t sweat in the sauna! I don’t know why, maybe I am not staying in there long enough. Any sauna experts care to share their tips? Everyone else in the sauna is sweating up a storm and I’m there dry as a soy bone. Enlighten me if you can! 🙂
Thanks for reading about my crushes, I would LOVE to hear yours! Please share your current joy snippets in the comments below.
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 13, 2012 | Food, Products, Reviews
♥
I’ve never been a three meals a day kinda girl. I love to eat when I feel like it, and this involves quite a lot of snacking and grazing throughout the day. I wouldn’t have it any other way, but there are definitely times when the snacking habit I’ve gotten into works against me! Sometimes it’s hard to say no to a bit of chocolate, or a sneaky vegan sausage roll instead of something healthier.
So! I’m always delighted when I come across new and healthy snack options that promise to help me overcome my need for chocolate and instead satisfy my sweet tooth with something more nourishing.
Enter Modern Day Hippie, the latest DIY snack range on the market proving that guilt-free treats are just a food processor away. All you need to do is blend, roll and refrigerate and a whole stack of treats will be ready for you in an hour.
♥
My housemate and I tried the ‘Sweet and Simple‘ flavour to start with, which contains apricots, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, agave, coconut oil and vanilla extract (all organic). As you can see in the photo above the apricots haven’t been gassed with sulphur dioxide (a preservative which helps dried apricots maintain their orange colour), this is a very positive thing health wise as sulphur dioxide, or preservative 220, isn’t good for your health.
♥
Dry ingredients into the blender! Unfortunately just after this, we discovered that you definitely need a food processor in order to make these balls, so we transferred the ingredients over to our new Thermomix!
♥
The sachet of wet ingredients before being added to the mix.
♥
Post-Thermomix. Note: you can still see a lot of the whole ingredients here (sesame seeds etc) I recommend processing until they are completely broken down and joined together as it tastes even better… see below.
♥
As you can see, the balls on the left have been processed for longer than the ones on the right and were easier and tastier to eat. We made 35 small snack balls all up and enjoyed munching on them throughout the week.
The cost for the mixes is $13 on the Modern Day Hippie online store, which I think is a great price for the number that it makes and how healthy they are! I’m going to be trying the Choc Cherry one next, can’t wait! 🙂
Do you like the look of these healthy, organic snacks?
* Products provided for consideration.
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 12, 2012 | Products, Wellness Tips
♥
Take a look at some of the things that have been keeping my wellbeing buzzing the past few weeks! Starting with the gorgeous roast veggies with olive oil above… I just love the colours, and they were deeeeee-licious!
♥
Yummy grilled mushroom, tomato, haloumi, rocket and spinach stack with pesto & some delicious soy sauce type thing! Washed down with a green smoothie – it is of course still Green July!
♥
Speaking of Green July, here’s a yummy smoothie I prepared a few days ago. I’ve just started getting into smoothies with lemon, apple, greens and UDO’s Oil in them and am LOVING the combo!
♥
I had the opportunity to check out Vanity Box Skin Couture this weekend just past, and let me tell you – it is incredible! I’ll be giving you an in-depth look at this one-of-a-kind salon in the next few weeks, but let it be known this place is in a class of its own! Check out the website for some stunning visuals!
♥
I have cute writers! The lovely Adriane sipping on an Eden’s Green Smoothie. These are the best, and she is pretty good too.
♥
My boyfriend is sweet and bought me kale flowers after we had an argument, they are so pretty!
♥
MORE Green Smoothie goodness, I’m a bit obsessed at the moment, in case you couldn’t tell ;)!
♥
One of my all time favourite combos. Magnesium bath salts and a relaxing bath oil. Ulllllltimate bliss. I’ve found that I’m having way more baths than usual at the moment due to the cold weather, anyone else?!
♥
And last but not least, my little houndly obsession for a few weeks – this pup was in the office I’m interning at for a while, and I was in love. Unfortunately now she is gone, but too cute not to post a pic.
Thanks for reading 🙂 If you have any questions be sure to let me know!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 11, 2012 | Alternative Therapy, Food, Green Smoothies
♥
In celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder’s (above) book The Beauty Detox Solution
, she advocates drinking her glowing green smoothie every morning for increased health, vitality and radiant skin. Being a smoothie lover and willing to try anything that promises glowing skin and extra energy, I jumped on the green smoothie bandwagon and set myself a goal to drink her infamous smoothie for every day in June.
♥
Every Saturday I would head down to the local farmers market to pick up all the organic produce I needed to make the smoothies for the week. The total cost usually amounted to around $35. That’s $5 per smoothie- bargain! I would prep all the ingredients on the weekend.
♥
I’d come home and chop everything up, put them in individual bags and freeze the 7 portions to save time on weekday mornings. Each night before I would take a bag from the freezer and leave it to defrost in the fridge overnight.
So, overall how did it go!? I ended up drinking the smoothie everyday in June up until the 27th (When I jetsetted off to Melbourne for a food filled weekend :P)
How did I feel by the end of the month? Absolutely FANTASTIC!
When I first started I was skeptical that the smoothie would be filling enough to keep me going throughout the morning, however it was surprisingly satisfying. When I sipped the smoothie throughout the afternoon (as a snack) I had a constant level of energy (and no afternoon sugar cravings!). Another bonus- it kept me extremely hydrated. And my skin? Well I only got 1 pimple the whole month. No complaints from me there!
Knowing that I’d had over half my recommended daily intake of fruit and veg before 10am felt great and I would recommend that everyone try this smoothie at least once!
♥
Kimberly Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie
Ingredients

♥ 1 & 1/2 cups water

(add more water to make smoother)
♥ 1 head organic romaine lettuce, chopped

♥ 3-4 stalks organic celery


♥ 1/2 head of a large bunch, or 3/4 of a small bunch of spinach

♥ 1 organic apple, cored and chopped

♥ 1 organic pear, cored and chopped

♥1 organic banana


♥ Juice of 1/2 fresh organic lemon


Optional

♥ 1/3 bunch organic coriander (stems okay)


♥ 1/3 bunch organic parsley (stems okay)


*Note: I added parsley but not coriander. I also usually added about 1 teaspoon of honey or bee pollen for added sweetness and nutrients.
♥
Directions 


♥ Add the water and chopped ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
*Note: I halved the recipe and found this made enough for 1 L of green smoothie every morning and occasionally leftovers to sip on during the day (depending on how much water I added).
♥
My other tips:
♥ I thoroughly recommend spending one morning per weekend prepping all ingredients. It keeps fresh in the freezer for 7 days and saves so much time during the weekday mornings.
♥ Drink the smoothie cold. If making fresh I suggest adding lots of ice.
♥ Make sure to blend the smoothie well. Otherwise you’ll end up with chucky, grainy bits that are not very nice. Add more water if it looks sludgy.
♥ Drink the smoothie slowly, relax and enjoy it. Drinking too fast may lead to that bloated uncomfortable full feeling.
Article by Kavisha, self confessed ‘health foodie’ who believes a little dessert is good for the soul. She is currently studying for her Master of Wellness at RMIT University and blogs at Style My Coconut.
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jul 9, 2012 | Wellness Tips
♥
♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I’m a wife to a very busy husband (Channel 7 Sports Presenter, Basil Zempilas) and mum to a very busy little bee, my 15 month old daughter Ava. I also have a blog called Absolute Amy which I started a few months ago. I cover everything from recipes, beauty, travel, motherhood, fashion and lifestyle.
♥
♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I start my day with a gentle cleanser, I just started using Q Silica which recently won a Best Overall Skincare award in the UK. It’s made from all natural ingredients which I love. I then use Garnier BB Cream which is essentially 3 products in 1. It provides a light coverage, sunscreen and moisturiser and creates a really subtle, fresh glow. I then use concealer for under my eyes, Australis Killer Curves mascara, MAC Blush in Desert Rose and Lancome Juicy Tubes lip gloss in Melon (Available on StrawberryNET).
Before I go to bed, I use La Prairie eye cream and Seven Wonders Argan Oil serum which contains antioxidants and Vitamin E , I’ve just started using it and have been very impressed with the results. I wake up and my skin feels super smooth and hydrated.
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I really love to have my nails done, I don’t quite feel dressed or ‘finished’ if my nails aren’t polished. I usually head to Stylish Nails in Mount Hawthorn to get them done.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
I go to Le Chic in Nedlands, Ranj and Mackenzie are both amazing colourists and stylists. I always leave completely happy with my hair. They’re the best!
♥
♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
I absolutely love using Lavender oil, which you can find in the local supermarket. It has so many uses; from sprinkling a few drops onto my pillow at night, to popping a few drops onto a warm flannel to soothe my skin. I always take this with me when I travel as it can be used on bites and stings, as an antiseptic, and a few drops in the bath creates an immediate day spa sensation.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
It’s so difficult to narrow it down to just three! I have to say that I have used Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat under my eyes since I was about 17. It’s the ultimate concealer for dark circles.
I also couldn’t live without lip balm, I have quite a collection but I have to say that Lucas Paw Paw ointment is my favourite.
My third product would have to be The Body Shop’s Japanese Cherry Blossom Shower gel, the smell is out of this world! It’s so clean and fresh and yummy and it also has great sentimental value as I used it when I was in labour with Ava, so it brings back wonderful memories.
♥
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
It might sound predictable, but I try to get enough sleep, eat well, fit in some exercise and drink lots of water. If I’m feeling tired or run down, bronzer and a big smile usually helps me look and feel better.
♥ Pool view at Gwinganna Health Retreat
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
I would love to go to a beautiful health retreat, even for a weekend. I have it on my list of things to do.
♥
♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
I start my day pretty early, sometimes around 5.30am and I usually make myself a coffee. I then have either a bowl of oatmeal with honey or share some toast and fruit with my daughter. Lunch is generally a sandwich, veggie slice or rice crackers with cheese, avocado and tomato. Afternoon tea is fruit and cheese with my daughter and I usually cook a healthy dinner for my hubby and I, something like Tuna & Veggie Pasta or a stir fry. Every night I indulge in a Whittakers coconut mini slab, I love chocolate and have found that it’s pointless to try and deny myself – it’s all about moderation and I really look forward to my little treat after dinner.
♥
♥ Describe your fitness routine.
As much as I’d love to, I don’t get time to go to any classes or the gym, but I do make an effort to walk to the local park at least a couple of times a week with my daughter. That as well as housework seems to keep me pretty fit. I would love to fit in a yoga class, I did pregnancy yoga with Ava and it was just amazing – it really helped with my breathing for childbirth.
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
I take a multi vitamin every day, and also see a chiropractor every 6 – 8 weeks.
♥
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
I love having candles scattered through my house and will burn one every night as away to wind down. I also love to have a cup of lemongrass and ginger tea every night, it’s so delicious and soothing. On the weekends I indulge in a glass of red, which is always a great way to relax!
Thanks to Amy for taking time out of her super busy schedule to share her routine with us!
If you have any questions, please leave them below 🙂
Be well,
xoxo
