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I’m a tea enthusiast, and since I know of many fantastic small tea companies, I was really excited to try out Indigiearth’s teas and Little China Teas.

A special mention for Indigiearth’s wonderful plum cream biscuits, though I didn’t review them because there’s not much you can say besides yuuum!

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♥ Lemon Myrtle tea

I’m impressed at how organic this is. I really feel like I could drop some on the ground and have something grow there. The scent is lemon with an extra spice to it – reminds me of cinnamon, but softer. I found this tea ultra-soothing. I’ve drunk lemon tea before when I’ve had colds, and found it unbearable – this is a very soft lemon with all the soothing, pleasant-smelling bits and none of the sourness.

♥ Daintree and Lavender tea

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting with this tea, not really knowing Daintree so fixating purely on the lavender. It’s a smell I love– but which is completely non-foody – so I was expecting the sensation of drinking green tea for the first time (i.e. not much fun), but this was very refreshing. I’ve been drinking it as a herbal tea, so no milk or sugar, and I haven’t felt like it’s needed those extra factors.

Wild Rosella Tea!

♥ Wild Rosella tea

WHOA. Firstly it’s fire engine red when brewed, and looks amazing in white china. Secondly I find it FAR too strong on its own for me – it’s tart tea, and full flavoured, even when brewed with tiny amounts. I have since refrigerated this with sugar and this is completely my preferred method. A wonderful iced tea!

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♥ Little China Teas – Up-Lift

I usually find Asian teas a bit difficult to start with, and was expecting the same with this one. The overall taste is very green tea but with a refreshing, cooling aftertaste. It would be a great option for those trying to “get into” Asian teas. This is built on Chinese medicine attempting to stimulate without caffeine – which surprised me, because I assumed this one was built on green tea. Worth mentioning as well that they recommend a “pinch” of tea –and considering this tea is made up of whole leaves you’re going to be in a world of trouble if you try to measure out a teaspoon.

♥ Little China Teas – Slimming

The packaging on this tea explains how the tea stimulates metabolism and staves off hunger, but not how. Thus I couldn’t really tell you if it’s claims are viable, because it would take some sustained drinking before seeing results, but I would happily agree that it’s a temporary food replacement, since it’s a “meaty” tea. By which I mean there’s a lot of flavours in it, it doesn’t feel like water with leaves. Like the other, the individual tea fragments are huge and thus a pinch is all you need for a teapotful, Tasty, soothing and filling.

The Indigiearth teas are available online at the Thulli online store and the Little China Shop teas in their own online store.

Review by Suzanne: she is allergic to exercise, but not tea, and can only be cured with cake.

Be well,

xoxo

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

I’m the Sales and Marketing Coordinator for the chemical-free luxury skin care brand Sodashi. I studied Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations at Curtin University, Bentley and I was very lucky to be offered an opportunity with such a great company. I am also the editor for Creatures of Commonplace, a website devoted to current fashion and beauty trends.

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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.

My beauty routine is a definite highlight for me because I use some of the most amazing products. Here goes:

1. Cleanser: I use the Sodashi Clay Cleanser with Sandalwood first thing in the morning. The cleanser is great to clean away any leftover residue from night products.

2. Exfoliate: I like to use Sodashi’s Rejuvenating Concentrate which is a liquid exfoliant made up of plant essences. You basically add 10 drops to a bowl of warm water, immerse your face cloth, rinse, and compress to the face. I love that it is so aromatic, almost like a mini aromatherapy session in your bathroom.

3. Boost: Next I apply my Sodashi Calming Skin Boost which is basically a leave on gel mask with amazing nutritional benefits for the skin. I leave it to deeply penetrate my skin while I brush my teeth. It also makes for a great primer before makeup!

4. Eye Lifting Gel: At the same time as the boost I apply my Sodashi Eye Lifting Gel which is great to reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eye area. A life saver in the morning!

5. Moisturiser: Finally I apply my Calming Face and Neck Moisturiser by gently massaging it into my skin in an uplifting motion – it’s never too early to start practicing these anti-ageing techniques!

During the day at the office I have a bottle of Sodashi Calming Rose Mist and Burt’s Bees Lip Balm to keep my skin and lips hydrated.

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

I love going to Annasha Day Spa in Gooseberry Hill for a Sodashi Pure Radiance Facial or the Thermal Infusing Facial Treatment. It is such a beautiful getaway just 40 minutes outside Perth CBD.

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

I am absolutely in love with Lee Preston Hair in South Perth. They do an amazing job and I can always trust them to try new styles or colours. I have had major trust issues with hairdressers in the past, so going to Lee Preston makes it a very pleasant and stress free experience!

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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

I always do my own manicure and pedicure. My favourite colours at the moment are the Butter London ‘The Full Monty’ and Chanel ‘Peridot.’

♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

Only three!?

♥ Sodashi Clay Cleanser with Sandalwood
♥ Rejuvenating Concentrate
♥ Calming Face and Neck Moisturiser (and Eye Lifting Gel).

ED: That’s 4! 😉

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

I always find that I feel my best when I go to the gym regularly, drink lots of water and meditate daily.

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

It would be amazing to go on a wellness retreat.

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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

Breakfast: A regular day would be a banana smoothie or All Bran with Almond and Honey.

Lunch: I usually take a boiled egg, crackers, a carrot and fruit, or if I manage to be organised in the morning a chicken wrap with avocado and cucumber. I LOVE Nudies and Emma and Toms juice and drink several cups of English Breakfast Tea a day.

Night time: I can be a little slack when it comes to nutritional value but we usually cook marinated chicken or roast chicken with vegetables. We also rarely have sweet biscuits, chocolate or icecream anywhere in the house otherwise it is too tempting! We always indulge in a once a week burger or Indian dinner (usually on the weekends).

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♥ Describe your fitness routine.

I usually try to get to the gym 3 times a week for an hour workout; 10mins warm up on the elliptical followed by 20mins of squats and weights and I usually finish with 20mins cardio (10mins on the bike and 10mins on the elliptical). I wind down with 10mins of stretching. I also like to get outside for a beach walk with friends.

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

I take 3 x a day HGC+ (horseradish, garlic and vitamin C), Olive Leaf and Elderberry and Pau D’arco (for cleansing and strengthening) and once a day Fish Oil.

At work we are very lucky to receive Bowen, Reflexology and Indian Head Massage’s once a month.

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

I love to read, right now I am absorbed in Jessica Rudd’s books (Kevin Rudd’s daughter) and I occasionally go to my holiday house in Ledge Point to relax. We also meditate every day at work which is a great way to de-stress.

Thanks to lovely Ali for sharing her beauty & wellbeing routine with us!

If you have any questions or comments for Ali, share em below 🙂

Be well,

xoxo

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I want to share with you two inspirational documentaries that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in the past couple of weeks. I would recommend them to anyone who is interested in wellbeing and living a healthy lifestyle (that should be most of you!)

♥ Yogawoman – The Film

This documentary follows the female journey of yoga throughout the world, and focuses on the ‘global good’ that yoga can foster. From cancer survivors, imprisoned women, those in poverty and those with a variety of health conditions, yoga can bring about the capacity for change and healing.

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With an all star cast including Shiva Rea and Sean Corne, plus many other highly regarded practitioners, Yogawoman is a unique look at the practice that so many of us are a part of. Recommended to anyone interested in yoga! Available from the Yogawoman website.

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♥ Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

Now here’s one I haven’t been able to stop raving about since watching it a week ago. Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead follows the 60-day juicing journey of soon-to-be-household-name Joe Cross. Starting out with obesity, a poor lifestyle and with chronic urticaria (persistant skin lesions), Joe decided to quit processed food altogether and only drink freshly pressed juice for 60 days while he drove across America, spreading the word about healing through green juice.

Not surprisingly his health increased exponentially, his lesions completely disappeared and he became fitter than ever before. All this while inspiring many others to make positive lifestyle choices as well.

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Never fear though! You wont just be drinking juice for the rest of your life, it’s just a ‘Reboot’ to your system, afterwards you’ll be able to continue eating (hopefully healthy food!)

While I don’t need to lose weight, I’ve experienced amazing levels of wellbeing from green smoothies (little different to juice) and would heartily recommend anyone give either juicing or smoothies a go! Find out more about Joe Cross here!

Have you ever done a juice cleanse? Would you like to? Lets chat about this!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

♥ No beaches like this in London!

When a chance meeting on holiday in Perth led to a surprise job offer, I found myself packing my bags and taking the plunge into a brand new life. And, I hoped, a much healthier one. Years spent in the hustle-bustle of London, with a stressful job and too many after-work drinks had taken their toll. Turns out that the City of Lights was just what I needed to revive my weary body and soul. So I wanted to share a little of my journey to wellness since arriving in Perth…

♥ Jacobs Ladder

♥ Kings Park

My first home in Perth was nestled at the foot of Kings Park and I was soon blown away by its beauty. I eagerly ventured out for a run, feeling a touch smug that I was out exercising at 7am…..this soon evaporated when I realised how many people had already run the gauntlet of Jacob’s Ladder by that time!

Since that first visit, magical Kings Park has been a consistent source of joy. One of my all time favourite things is a swim in the rooftop pool in the park, gazing out onto the trees…bliss.

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♥ Subi Farmers Market

A stroll round Subi Farmers Market for a fresh juice and organic veggies is my treasured Saturday morning ritual. It never fails to restore me after the working week, awakening my senses with all the yummy tastes on offer, from the healthy to decadent – with my favourite raw chocolate stall combining both elements beautifully.

The buzz of people easing into their weekend is wonderful and I love connecting with local producers with a real passion for what they do. Gorgeous!

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♥ Innate Wisdom Wellness Centre

One thing that struck me as a Perth newbie was how many people here see a chiropractor. Intrigued, and spurred on by my tense ‘desk jockey’ shoulders, I ventured into Innate Wisdom. They use a very gentle technique called Network Spinal Analysis – no cracking!

It’s been truly amazing. The long held tensions in my body are melting away, but it’s the emotional release that’s been totally mind blowing. I can’t thank the team enough for their skill and care.

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♥ ‘Down South’

Oh my! When I had my first taste of the Margaret River region I thought I’d stumbled on paradise. Since then I’ve been ‘down south’ at every opportunity and it always uplifts me.
The relaxed vibe is so appealing, as well as the many opportunities for pampering – manna for a spa addict like me! Favourites are Empire with its Sodashi spa and Merribrook which has beautiful grounds and a lovely swimming pool.

Of course there’s the obvious pull towards gluttony, with edible and quaffable temptations at every turn, but a little of what you fancy is good for you, non? Especially if it’s from the fabulous Cullens biodynamic winery…

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♥ Kitty Campion at the Perth Natural Medical Clinic

As with chiro, naturopathy seems more prevalent over here, so after seeing Kitty Campion give a talk on the mind-body connection I decided to give it a go. Kitty is an experienced medical herbalist and practices many other therapies including iridology, sound and light healing, bioresonance, and Reiki. Put simply, she’s an all round natural health superstar.
It’s fair to say that when I first saw Kitty I was more than a little ‘toxic’. But no more! My eyes sparkle, my skin glows and I have a definite spring in my step. We are very lucky to have Kitty in Perth!

What would your top 5 wellness tips for Perth newbies be? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Article by Karen Miller, Perth newbie & loving it!

Be well,

xoxo

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

35 years ago I embarked on a life long journey of being a medical herbalist, initially diagnosing with iridology and over the years to the extensive training in six different styles of bodywork as well as training in further diagnostic methods using bio-resonance in Germany. During that time I have had the privilege of working with more than 30,000 patients and it was 20 years into this journey when I began further training in emotional intelligence and metaphysical law. I came to Australia 2 years ago on a permanent Distinguished Talent Visa in order to teach Emotional Intelligence, a 28 module course which is filling up quickly. My next class starts on 9th June. I’ve also just submitted my 10th book ‘The Handbook of Mind/Body Healing’ to a publisher in Sydney and am embarked on my 11th ‘A Revolutionary Guide to Healing Depression’.

Kitty works at Perth Natural Medical Clinic (PNMC).

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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine. (please include specifics about brands/products used)

Five minutes dry skin brushing followed by a brief hot then icy cold shower. Ren moisturiser (Ren products available on Strawberry NET) and Green People deodorant, together with Dr Organic aloe vera moisturiser.

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

I attend mi:skn salon in Lord Street, Mt Lawley for weekly facial acupuncture. Francesca Perino is a fantastic therapist trained in five element acupuncture so the treatment is holistic and she only uses natural products on the skin.

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

To date I have not yet found a hairdresser to suit me and I am still searching.

♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

I use a Korean Chi machine which increases oxygen throughout the body and aids in relaxation.

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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

• Ecover shower gel
• Ren Global Protection Moisturiser (available on Strawberry NET)
• Yves St Laurent Fuchsia lipstick

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

Daily meditation, a guaranteed way of emptying out all stress in the body and mind.

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

Eco friendly spa retreat for weekend

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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

Morning liver flush – consisting of freshly pressed carrot, celery, lemon and ginger juiced with a couple of tablespoons of hempseed oil blended in.

Lunch – Fish/Meat and mixed green salad with balsamic dressing.

Afternoon Tea – Goji berries and nuts

Dinner – Meat/Fish and six seasonal vegetables plus 2 squares of Green & Black 85% organic chocolate. Sometimes half a bar! Lots of filtered water,the odd soy late or Rooibos tea.

♥ Describe your fitness routine.

About to embark on a recently purchased aero pilates reformer bench. Hoping to do 3-4 times a week.

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

I am a natural therapist and therefore take full advantage of weekly treatments of acupuncture and various bodywork.

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

Art House Movies, British Detective Series, eating out with friends and enjoying fine wines.

Thanks so much to Kitty for taking time out of her extremely busy schedule to participate in our wellbeing routine! If you’re interested in reading more about her, I found this great article on the Perth Natural Medical Clinic website.

Be well,

xoxo