Search Results
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on April 1, 2013
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
A yogi who had another life as a corporate tax manager for 15 years before deciding to pursue her dream of teaching yoga full time and then opening up a yoga studio – Bikram Yoga Victoria Park – to share her passion with more people in one space (with the support of her loving, ever-patient husband)!
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
As I have dry sensitive skin, morning routine is just cleansing with lukewarm water and Vanessa Megan Rosewater Spray. After a Bikram yoga session (either practicing or teaching), I would cleanse my skin with the Vanessa Megan Clementine Organic Foaming Cleanser. If the skin is feeling dehydrated, I will use the Vanessa Megan Jasmine Face Cream. I keep it simple as I am a busy person and don’t have much time for a long complicated routine.
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I cannot do without a 6 weekly “Hydradermie” facial with Monika from Oxford Beauty Clinic, Leederville.
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♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
A 6 monthly trim with Davina from Head Office, Perth CBD.
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
Bio Oil when the skin is feeling extremely dehydrated after cleansing and instead of using my Vanessa Megan Face Cream, I use Bio Oil and leave it overnight. It does wonders for my skin tone and hydration.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
Doterra Peppermint and Wild Orange Lip Balm, blusher (Clinique) and Vanessa Megan Rose Spray.
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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
Lots of fluids for hydration and Juice Plus (branded line of dietary supplements containing concentrated fruit and vegetable juice extracts fortified with added vitamins and nutrients.)
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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet?
Crossfit! For strength and endurance!
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
I have a muesli bar (or bircher muesli) for breakfast, Green or protein smoothies in between meals, a long black (coffee) every 2 – 3 days because I love the smell and taste of a good brewed coffee, nourishing lunch with (soupy) noodles + protein (chicken or fish) with vegetables and dinner is usually light – either a salad with loads of avocado, nuts and Danish feta cheese or with rice/ quinoa. If i am extremely hungry (low in energy) –my meal will include more protein (fish or chicken) with steamed vegetables together with my avocado salad. Every month, I do treat myself to a small piece of red meat (steak or lamb) as my body does function better with some red meat every once in a while.
Other treats which I may have throughout a typical day could include savoury muffin or soup. I do also treat myself to the hot chips and sea salt with vinegar if my body craves it or eggs, spinach & bacon for weekend breakfast!
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I am usually active every day with yoga as everyday will usually involve a yoga class to practice my yoga unless I am already teaching for the day.
I also try to do a personal home practice for 20 minutes + 20 minutes meditation 1x per week which is especially nurturing and centering for me during a busy week.
My new years resolution this year is to try Cross Fit so that I can balance out my yoga practice with new physical activities for additional strength building!
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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
Acupuncture and as mentioned above Juice Plus. I find acupuncture very relaxing and balancing for me as I am a high energy individual and having an acupuncture treatment every fortnight helps me to slow down, relax and take a bit of down time for myself.
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
Movies with my husband or girlfriends (depending on the movie).
I do find the best way to de-stress is to have 1 hour to myself at the beach or get a Thai massage session in at Thai Thai Day Spa in Langford.
What do you think of Karen's routine? If you have any questions or comments please leave them below! 🙂
Be well,
xoxo
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Posted in Interviews | 
3 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on March 21, 2013
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Nestled amongst the beautiful houses and quiet streets of South Perth, Cove Day Spa provides an urban wellness oasis. Coinciding with my 6 week liver and kidney detox (a decision I deeply regretted on Australia Day!), I decided that now was the perfect time to take advantage of Cove Spa's awesome summer special- the full body cleanse!
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After changing into the standard fluffy white robe I was led to the relaxation room (filled with lemon water, snacks and tea) to fill out a quick questionnaire and settle in. Shortly after I was greeted by my warm and very knowledgeable therapist Kylie, whom escorted me to my treatment room.
The full body cleanse package consists of 5 treatments:
♥ Urine PH and Heavy Metal Test
We started off with a 20 minute health and lifestyle consultation, which included a urine pH and heavy metal check. It was exciting and very interesting. Kylie explained the results of my test and gave some good lifestyle tips including the benefits of dry body brushing and green drinks.
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♥ Far Infrared Sauna
A hidden sanctuary houses the infrared sauna and has a very tropical feel. I was given a glass of fresh coconut water to hydrate and left to myself for the next 30 minutes to relax. Infrared saunas differ from traditional saunas in that they heat the body not the air. They warm the muscles and joints and stimulate fat cells to release toxins. Afterwards I felt quite warm, but wasn’t overly hot and sweaty like I would normally be from a traditional sauna.
♥ Full Body Massage
After hopping up onto the most comfy massage bed ever (think fluffy pillowed clouds), I was massaged all over with a special blend of detoxifying essential oils. The smell was divine and the pressure was perfect.
♥ Body Scrub, Wrap & Chakra Balancing Facial
The sugar crystal scrub felt amazing, exfoliating every little bit of my body. I was then wrapped up while my facial got underway. Along with an awesome face massage, warm amethyst crystals were rubbed all over my face to stimulate the internal detoxifying organs and get rid of negative energy. So good!
♥ Disco Shower, AKA Swiss Shower
Finally, I was left to rinse and re-energise in the Swiss shower. Swiss showers feature multiple showerheads that alternate warm and cold water. A highly invigorating experience! This particular shower also had flashing coloured lights (hence my nickname for it), which I was told was a form of colour therapy. One wonders whether Swiss showers are sold on Gumtree….
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Finishing off in the relaxation room with a cup of the spas signature tea (a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamon and cloves) and a delicious bowl of probiotic yoghurt with berries, I was definitely in bliss town 🙂
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Overall the service was professional and welcoming. The spa was very clean and the attention to detail was great. A perfect gift for a mother, sister, friend, yourself or even a significant male friend. Whomever for, if you’re interested in a little relaxation, detoxification and a brand new start, this treatment would be perfect!
** This special wellness promotion has been extended especially for Wellness WA readers until the end of March, mention Wellness WA upon booking to gain access to this gorgeous & life-changing 2.5 hour package for $260!
Cove Spa
47 Tate St South Perth WA 6151
(08) 9367 1877
Visit Cove Spa online at:
♥ www.covespa.com.au
♥ Facebook
Review by Kavisha, self confessed ‘health foodie’ & spa convert. She is currently studying for her Master of Wellness at RMIT University and blogs at bebalancedbewell.tumblr.com
Be well,
xoxo
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Posted in Alternative Therapy, Day Spa, Reviews, South of River | 2 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on March 14, 2013
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I loved sports growing up and was into everything including netball, tennis, soccer, karate and even trampolining. Although sporty, my weight was a problem. After a decision not to leave my teens unhappy with my weight, I took control of my health and dropped 20kg to become the fit, strong and confident person I wanted to be.
Passionate and determined to share the benefits of health and fitness with others I started up She’s a Knockout, a mobile personal training company specialising in personal training for women!
It’s so rewarding helping women achieve their goals, transforming their lives and themselves along the way. Through Personal Training, Corporate Training, Bootycamp and Boxing classes, She’s a Knockout now brings health and wellness to women all over Perth… and we’re loving it!
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I spend a lot of time outdoors so my skin is constantly thirsty. A massage therapist gave me a great tip once to add oil to my usual moisturiser – it works wonders! I mix Nivea Body Firming Lotion with Bio Oil.
Confession: I may or may not have cleaned Strawberrynet out of Clinique products. The daily routine comprises Take the Day Off Makeup Remover (you’ll never have racoon eyes again I swear!), Clarifying Lotion, Dramatically Different Moisturiser and Superbalanced Makeup. They also have a great moisturizing lip colour balm that comes in loads of colours –just ignore the weird name – Chubby Stick?!
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♥ What's the one beauty treatment you can't live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I haven’t had the chance in Perth, but on a recent trip to Vietnam I tried my first Traditional Thai Massage. Amazing!
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♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
It took me a year to find her, and I’m not sure I want to let the secret out, but Victoria at Renos on St Quentin in Claremont is my hair guru.
♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
A friend of mine gave me a product to try once called Baby Foot. You pop your feet in these indivdual moisturising bags and let them do their magic! After a couple of days avoiding strapless shoes (peeling!), lovely soft baby feet emerge.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
♥ Nivea Firming Body Lotion
♥ Nivea Chapstick
♥ Vaalia Probiotic Natural Yoghurt
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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
I believe feeling and looking great all starts in your mind. If you think ‘I am a fit, healthy person’, you will talk that way and you will act that way. The result: you will be that way! (Ed: check out our article on Positive Affirmations for more on this!)
For me it’s drinking lots of water, exercising regularly with purpose, eating natural non-processed foods and surrounding myself with positive people.
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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven't yet?
If the opportunity ever arose I’d love to give aerial acrobatics a go!
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Although I can’t cook to save myself, I’m definitely a foodie. So the key for me is moderation. I try to stay away from packaged foods – I know I feel good when I eat clean, so a typical day goes like this:
Breakfast: wholegrain toast, banana and cinnamon
Snack: almonds, cottage cheese
Lunch: fresh spring rolls (these are so easy to make – herbs with chicken or salmon, baby spinach, mint, carrot & cucumber in rice paper rolls)
Snack: seasonal fruit, reduced fat cheese
Dinner: salmon steak with quinoa, baby spinach, balsamic vinegar and toasted sunflower & pumpkin seeds
Dessert: natural yoghurt, berries & honey
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
Ooo my favourite bit! ☺
Fitness should be fun, so I mix things up with my exercise routine to keep my brain and body from getting bored.
Outdoor training is the best, so most of my training takes place in parks or at the beach. Each week I’ll do a combination of boxing, playing netball, weighted circuit training, running, interval training and hill sprints.
Relaxation and recovery is also important, so I do a few stretch/relaxation classes a week to stay loose and avoid injuries.
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
In addition to a nutritious diet I take a women’s multivitamin, vitamin c and fish oil daily.
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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
Cathcing up with girlfriends, smashing it out in a boxing session or going for a run in the sunshine are all top of my de-stress hit-list ☺
Thanks to Amanda for taking the time to share her routine with us! Check out the website if you're interested in finding out more about She's A Knockout.
If you have any questions or comments please leave them below! 🙂
Be well,
xoxo
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Posted in Exercise, Interviews | Comments Off on Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Amanda, Owner & Head Trainer at She's A Knockout.
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on January 21, 2013
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I have been hooked on personal development ever since my Dad gave me the book ‘Coach Yourself
’ after I graduated from school. The desire to really “find myself” was ignited so after a couple years of deliberation (aka fear) I moved to London to begin the search! I loved the cosmopolitan city that never sleeps and everywhere I went, even if it was just on the underground train to work – there was a sense of excitement. That you really can be whoever you want in this city and accepted for it. Moving back to Perth after the cold grey winters got the better of me and my business idea Fusion Life was born.
I wanted to bring a slice of London to Perth, to show the up and coming women that Perth can also be a place of excitement with lots to do. So day to day I now run Fusion Life which involves organizing personal/professional development and networking events in the city and updating the website with articles and tips on how to live a balanced lifestyle and make the most of our beautiful Perth!
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I have always liked to experiment with different beauty products and very rarely purchase the same product twice. As my Fusion Life motto goes – balance is key and I like to keep trying new things on my ultimate search for a perfect balance!
Although I do have some faves of course:
• Palmers Cocoa Body Butter – yummy chocolatey scent and very nourishing.
• Aveeno Positively Radiant Face Moisturiser – natural as my face doesn’t need any more chemicals.
• Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser – face scrub gentle enough to use every day.
• Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment – everyone loves this for a reason! Helps condition and add shine to my newly blonde hair.
• Maybelline Nude Airfoam Moisturiser – like mousse for the face – goes on light and fluffy but gives me amazing coverage!
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Other activities that make their way into my beauty routine include:
• After my morning shower I always moisturize from head to toe.
• Use exfoliation gloves over my entire body at least twice a week.
• Drink lots of water throughout the day and take my daily Swisse Women’s Ultivite Multivitamin. If I don’t drink water I definitely notice the difference in my skin.
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♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
Of course you can’t go past a nice relaxing massage or facial. This helps to radiate beauty from the inside out. If I’m relaxed this shows in my care free and peaceful nature. I must admit I haven’t been to many in Perth lately, I was in Bali last year and loaded up on the treatments! If I were to have a massage or facial in Perth I would go to my brilliant beautician Corinne at The Beauty Chamber in Attadale.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
Jelosia – Amanda and Steph, they were recommendation by my beautician and my mum! About 11 months ago I decided to go blonde for the first time ever, I was a little nervous to see if it would suit me but the girls at Jelosia helped me gradually go from dark (almost black) to a nice golden blonde which I love. Their foils are right to the root and very fine so you get a great even colour. Blonde’s definitely have more fun!
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
Love the facemask Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask this is very affordable and makes my skin glow. Also doesn’t cause me to break out like I have a tendency to do with other facemasks. Also love to exfoliate my whole body with exfoliation gloves – makes my skin feel amazingly soft and smooth!
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♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
1. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser – this is gentle enough to use every day and gets all the make-up off as well as making my skin look vibrant.
2. Redken Extreme Strength Builder Plus Hair Treatment – after going blonde my hair was so dry and seemed to snap off every time I combed it! After being used to long healthy brunette locks, the thinning blonde hair was very scary. I tried a few different treatments and nothing was working, my hair kept snapping! Then a good friend introduced me to the Redken Protein Treatment and my hair is becoming healthier every time I use it. Yay I can stay blonde!
3. Maybeline Unstoppable Eyeliner Onyx – I have used this ever since I discovered makeup and now if I don’t wear it I feel like I’m missing something!
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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
It’s not really a secret – but the two things that really keep everyone alive are… oxygen and water! So when I wake up every morning I try to drink a big glass of water and take 5 deep belly breaths. This along with some gentle stretching puts me in the right frame of mind to conquer the day with peak energy and vitality. So my main tips are:
1. Breathe properly – this means breathing in deep, extending your stomach to get maximum lung capacity, hold for a few seconds and release slowly. Instant stress reliever, try it now!
2. Drink lots of water all through the day – add lemon if you’re feeling extra healthy, the lemon helps to alkalise your body (the less acidic your body is – the better you will feel)
3. Get moving – we’re not designed to sit in a chair for 8 hours. I know it’s cliché but take the stairs, get off the bus a few stops away from your house, take regular breaks from the computer – it all helps. Even better find a sport that you love or a running partner to keep you motivated.
Implement those 3 simple things every single day and you will definitely notice the difference to your energy levels – no coffee required!
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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
I really need to try dry body brushing. Apparently this is like a detox for the skin and a few of the many benefits include:
• Removal of dead skin layers which leaves the skin looking more vibrant
• Reduction of cellulite
• Aids digestion
• Strengthens the immune system
• Increases the flow of blood which tightens the skin and prevents premature aging
And it is easy, inexpensive and invigorating to do. If it’s good enough for Miranda Kerr it’s good enough for me!
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
I normally wake up and have a big glass of water to kick start the day. Then I have a shot of wheatgrass which helps to keep my body more alkaline (as opposed to acidic.) This helps with the energy levels throughout the day.
I start work early at 7am so have something simple like muesli and yoghurt for breakfast. I love a bit of crunch so like to add almonds as well.
Lunch will usually be a tuna salad with whatever veggies are taking my fancy that week! Again I love the crunch so will add some walnuts or crunchy Asian noodles. If I haven’t had time to make my lunch the night before I always have a few of the John West Tuna & Bean salads in the fridge for lazy times. Yes I love my tuna ☺
My favourite easy dinner is pan-fried salmon or chicken with mashed sweet potato, broccoli, asparagus and corn. I will have this most nights provided I am not out or if my boyfriend is over we try to cook new meals to spice up the menu – always with lots of veggies!
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I am currently training for the Mooloolaba Olympic distance triathlon in March next year with a few friends, which means lots of running and riding – I’ll be starting the swimming training next week now that it has warmed up a bit! So I run at least 5 km 3 times a week and ride to work 2 days a week.
Luckily I have a training partner that I work with and that is great motivation to not skip out the lunchtime run! We also train together sometimes on the weekend – last one was a 40km bike ride followed by a 6km run which was a real test to my fitness but so worth it! I also make sure I stretch most mornings and after every exercise session.
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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
I take the Swisse Women’s Multivitamin, which gives me all the vitamins, and nutrients I have missed out on in my diet that day. This is the first multi vitamin I have taken regularly that I have actually felt the difference in daily life.
I have also just started taking another dietary supplement called E3 Live. The benefits of which include: ability to manage everyday stress; increased energy and endurance; improved attention and alertness; and strengthened immune system. After a week I am definitely noticing the difference and crossing lots more off my ‘to do’ list!
♥ How many hours sleep do you usually get each night? Do you have any bedtime rituals or tips to help you get a great nights sleep?
I am lucky and have always been able to sleep well. I have recently completed a Fatigue Management course and was profiled as needing to get 8-10 hours sleep for maximum energy during the day! I certainly don’t get that but do try for at least 7 hours every night. I definitely notice the difference if I don’t, and snooze the alarm a few more times! There are some good tips on the Fusion Life website for learning how to wake up earlier in the mornings.
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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
When I walk out of a Les Mills Body Balance session I feel so calm and relaxed! I love it because it is a mix of pilates, tai chi, yoga and meditation and I never get bored with the routine. Either that or having a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc with friends or family will do the trick! Life is all about balance 😉
Thanks to Ashley for sharing her routine with us – if you have any questions for her, please leave them in the comments section below!
Be well,
xoxo
Posted in Interviews | Comments Off on Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Ashley Piotto, Founder of Fusion Life Perth.
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on January 15, 2013
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♥ Healthy frozen treats by Detoxinista
As the weather heats up I’ve been craving cooling foods and drinks, but on a sugar-and-dairy free diet reaching for the ice cream isn’t possible. So I’ve been on the lookout for some healthy alternatives and stumbled across a fantastic website with tons of inspiration – www.detoxinista.com
The website is packed with healthy, but indulgent and very yummy recipes. So far I’ve tried the frozen almond butter fudge, replacing the honey with liquid stevia (about 15-20 drops) and chocolate coconut milk ice cream, again with the liquid stevia replacement. Both are divine and don’t last long! They’re also really easy to make. I’ve varied the fudge with a tahini version (so yum) and also a macadamia nut butter option (see pic below). I also reinvented the ice cream into a citrus version, adding the juice and zest of half a lemon to the mix instead of the cacao.
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♥ Lifestream Spirulina Blue
I’ve reached the end of year with flagging energy levels so have been in need of a boost. Superfoods like spirulina are a great way to get some extra vitamins and minerals into your body in whole food, rather than synthetic, form. I’ve tried various spirulina powders, but they can be pretty unpalatable and I find that adding a scoop to a smoothie tends to overpower the other flavours. So these spirulina tablets are a great idea. Not only are they easy to consume, but the ‘blue’ version means they contain 50% more phytococyanin than other spirulinas, which has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
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♥ Bali Love
I’ve recently returned from my second trip to Bali since moving to Perth, which again proved balm for the mind, body and soul. This time I stayed in East Bali at the gorgeous Alila Manggis. It was beautiful and peaceful, just what I needed, and I did very little other than relax by the pool and enjoy some blissful Balinese massages.
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However I did take a day trip to my beloved Ubud for a bit of hustle-bustle, shopping and some raw food treats. I lunched at the Clear Café which has a fantastic and very varied menu with a mix of raw and cooked foods, including some fish options. I had the hummus trio with raw crackers which was delicious and very healthy.
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♥ Raw Essentials Skincare
I like to keep my skincare as natural as possible and this range is spot on. It’s also local, which I love, created just down the road in Fremantle. After the Bali holiday my skin was feeling quite dry and, well, a bit scaly!
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The citrus body scrub, made with raw sugar and poppy seeds, has been really effective in smoothing things out again. I’ve also been using the light face cream which is packed with essential oils (like all products in the range) so it smells amazing and it’s a perfect lightweight but nourishing moisturiser for the summer. Since I’ve been using the face cream my skin feels really soft again.
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♥ Green Juice+Smoothie Combos
Trying to decide between a morning juice or smoothie, I’ve been experimenting with juice+smoothie combos. A ‘joothie’ maybe? Or a ‘Smuice’?? My current favourite is zucchini, broccoli and lemon juice with half an avocado blended into it. I’ve also created a thirst quencher with lemon juice and blended cucumber and avocado. The only downside is that you have to clean both the juicer and blender….
What are you crushing on at the moment? Leave a comment below to share the love!
Article by Karen, currently feeling very excited about the New Year and all the exciting wellness possibilities ahead!
Be well,
xoxo
Posted in Food, Green Smoothies, Organic, Products, Reviews | 3 Comments »
