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Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on February 13, 2017
♥ Reece Carter, the Herb Nerd!
Today I’m really excited to share with you the wellbeing routine of Reece Carter, well-known Aussie Naturopath & “Herb Nerd” who loves all things to do with plants and their healing powers. Read on for some fantastic tips that will get your skin glowing & energy levels soaring. Thanks Reece!
♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I guess you could say I’ve been a ‘Herb Nerd’ all my life! Growing up in The Wheatbelt, my Pop had the most phenomenal veggie garden which we worked on together, and I felt a real connection to life on the land.
I’ve always been fascinated with the combination of traditional remedies with current research, and turning to the garden or pantry for wellness. While living in London, I had a lightbulb moment and decided to formalise my education in the area I loved with a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) with Endeavour College of Natural Health.
In my very first year of study, I did a subject called ‘Herbal Manufacturing’ which gave me hands-on experience of how herbal preparations are made. I loved the subject and spent more than 600 hours in the Wellnation Clinics at Endeavour to better understand people’s daily health concerns. That’s when I decided to dive into the world of herbal medicine.
♥ DOSE Vitality Tonic
Now, I’m a practising naturopath based in Sydney, creating a life I love! I have my own clinical practice, have recently released my own liquid vitality tonic called DOSE, and produce my video channel ‘The Garden Apothecary’ in Los Angeles dedicated to making the ancient art of herbal medicine new again.
♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?.
Cleansing and a light moisturise after the gym every morning. Night time is where I do my more heavy duty skin healing, loading up with heavier oils like rosehip, and blends that I make myself. I love using sweet almond oil for Vitamin E and calendula which is very healing for the skin.
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
An aloe vera plant is my at-home hack, because it’s so easy to grow and so versatile. It’s one of those things that has so many different uses in beauty and grooming. You can combine it with a bit of cucumber juice or witch hazel, and all of a sudden you’ve got an aftershave gel to reduce irritation. Or you can freeze the gel and replace the store bought version from your own garden if you’ve had too much sun.
One of my go-tos would have to be my aloe vera eye gel, which uses hydrating aloe, soothing cucumber, anti-inflammatory chamomile and tightening witch hazel to soothe tired, puffy eyes. You can find the recipe here, or watch me show you how to make it here!
♥ Midas Cup Tumeric Latte
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
1. DOSE Vitality Tonic – this is built around something I was making for myself and having at the start of everyday for wellness and improved energy and mood throughout the day, so I created an over-the-counter version of that. My aim with the tonic is to reduce the effect our every increasing hectic lifestyles have on wellness, and restore vitality using our bodies’ natural energy pathways. Find it online here or also at OneFHL in Subiaco.
2. Midas Cup Turmeric Latte Superfood Blend – my absolute go to! Turmeric is another food I have every day because it has this enormous range of health benefits. It’s the king of anti-inflammatories – especially for the gut – and as we know as naturopath’s, the gut is linked very closely to mental health and wellbeing. So having a natural gut anti-inflammatory everyday is a must for me, and this blend is absolutely delicious.
3. Organic Rosehip Oil – it’s a beauty! I use it on its own at night for my skin. It’s rich in Vitamin C which not only acts as an antioxidant, but also improves collagen synthesis to strengthen elasticity and keep your skin looking fresh and supple.
♥ Reece + pals @ OneFHL in Subi
♥ How do you like to get your body moving? Describe your weekly fitness routine.
The thing I do most is high intensity interval training (HIIT), usually a 45-minute sweat session first thing in the morning. I always look for a place I can do that kind of class – when I’m home in Perth, it’s at OneFHL in Subiaco.
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
As much as I’ve tried, I’m not really big on meditation. I see enormous benefit in it, but my mind is always racing and so if I need to do something meditative, it’s a slow-paced repetitive cardio activity. I find swimming to be very relaxing, so if ever there’s a time where I feel a bit overwhelmed, that’s the kind of exercise I do. For me, it serves the same purpose – quietening the mind and focusing on a single activity, that’s where it’s therapeutic for me.
♥ How many hours sleep do you usually get each night? Do you have any bedtime rituals or tips to help you get a great night’s sleep?
A lot! I’m an early to bed, early to rise guy, and a very deep sleeper! It’s not unusual to find me in bed by 8:30pm, and I’m up at 5am. So I get at least eight hours a night, and always have my magnesium and herbal tea before bed. I usually have a passionflower, lemon balm and lavender blend that I make myself to calm a racing mind – this was a lifesaver during my studies!
To keep up to date with Reece on his Herb Nerd-y journey, check out his website or follow him on Facebook / Instagram!
If you have any questions or comments about Reece’s routine, please leave them below! <3 xo
Posted in Interviews, Other | 
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Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on January 26, 2017
Hello! It’s been a little while between green drinks, I’ve been busy working on Wellness WA’s new look & layout, plus hitting up LOADS of cool new (and old favourite) wellness options that are popping up around Perth.
Coming right up are 4 things that I have been LOVING lately.
♥ Spray-On Aloe Vera
Being ultra fair skinned, I was raised to fear the sun above all else. I’ve now arrived at the age of 32 with zero tan to speak of, a bunch of freckles & am often mistaken for 8-10 years younger (thanks, kind pals!). While I can’t necessarily put the last one down to just hiding from the sun – #babyfacegenetics – there’s a lot to be said for maximising your pre & post-sun exposure routines to prevent skin damage. I recently wrote an article on what I recommend pre-beach, which can be applied to any sunshiny activity.
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Post-sun, and particularly if I happen to get slightly more pink than expected, the best bets I’ve found are: 1) A cold shower for as long as possible to counteract the burn, similar to if you burn yourself in any other way! 5 minutes plus is recommended to take some of the heat out. 2) Two to three cups of green tea to boost antioxidants. I’m not a medical professional but the personal research I’ve done on antioxidants is enough to make this a consistent habit for me. 3) Aloe Vera! It’s known as the “burn plant” for a reason. Applying aloe ASAP after sun exposure promotes skin healing & relieves stinging and itching, my current favourite is this Surf Life Saving spray on mist which makes applying it a breeze. I spray it on every couple of hours and before bed + after my shower in the morning if I’ve been burnt and it really does the trick!
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♥ Homemade Healthy Choc Smoothies!
Due to an upcoming retreat (hellooooo Sri Lanka!), I’ve been trying to save some money by making more smoothies at home, and saving brunch splurges for things that there’s no way I’d ever be able to make at home (cue, Flora & Fauna). With this in mind I set out to create my own version of a cacao, banana & peanut butter smoothie – the bonus being I can use all my favourite brands, additional supplements & get it tasting exactly how I like it.
After many trials I’ve come up with my favourite recipe, give it a whirl! It gets my morning started in the best possible way, after this I’m loving life, full of energy and prepared for whatever the day throws at me.
Choc Bliss Morning Smoothie
♥ 1 x cup of frozen banana chunks (if you’re lazy like me, Creative Gourmet now sells packets of pre-chopped, frozen banana at Woolies & Coles – life changing!)
♥ 1-1.5 x cups of coconut water (depending on how thick you want it… 1 cup is more of an icecream texture, 1.5 cups is a smoothie texture)
♥ 1-2 x tsp cacao, or more if you prefer. I like a gentle buzz.
♥ 1/2-1 x tsp peanut butter, I use Mother Earth Smooth variety
♥ 1/2 x tsp local honey
OPTIONAL!
♥ 1/2 x tsp organic sesame seeds
♥ 1/4 x tsp ground vanilla
♥ 1/2 x sachet of Juice Plus chocolate protein powder, or other protein powder
♥ Quick grind of himalayan pink salt
Method: Place ingredients in blender in above order and blitz on high + pulse for 30 seconds. I use a Froothie which is similar to a Vitamix and it works really well, but any high-speed blender will work.
Makes 1.5 – 2 cups depending on how much liquid you use, and will put you in the best mood for the rest of the day. Let me know what you think if you try it!
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Twisting Peacock Yoga Studio, Osborne Park
My latest obsession. The yin classes at Twisting Peacock are out of this world, and SOMETIMES a tiny hound called Potato pitter patters around as well! #mustlovedogs obviously, which I do with all my heart. The studio owner and totally lovely human babe, Melissa Howard, exudes ease & grace, and her classes are an incredible mix of soulful yogic philosophy interwoven with meditation, restoration and thoughtful sequencing. I leave every class on a high. The other teachers are fantastic as well and I can’t wait to explore more of the classes & very well-priced events that they run regularly.
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Z’kin Brightening & Hydrating Masque
One for the chocolate lovers. This Zkin masque smells EXACTLY like chocolate mousse/chico baby lollies and it’s taken everything in my power to not squeeze the tube directly into my mouth. This has become my go-to mask pre-event or if my skin just needs a little boost. I haven’t found it to make much difference on small pimples, but it’s not really designed for that – so I spread this over my entire face but skip any areas with a pimple, where I’ll apply a separate mask which is specifically designed to dry those out. I’d suggest using this one anytime you feel a choccy craving coming on, but want to brighten your skin whilst indulging – delicious.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments below! x
Be well,
Annette
Posted in Food, Yoga | Comments Off on Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes: Spray-On Aloe Vera, The Best Healthy Chocolate Smoothie Recipe, Twisting Peacock Yoga + More!
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on July 1, 2016
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Call me a wellness nerd, but nothing excites me more than hearing about a brand new way to get healthy, nourished and feeling amazing in our little city. It’s the reason I started this website and I can’t wait to start sharing more healthy discoveries with you again over the coming weeks, months and years!
Working in the Perth CBD, I often feel a little strapped for super healthy & quick lunch options that don’t break the bank and don’t require prep (very little kitchen space at my workplace).
During my lunchtime wanderings (read: desperate search for healthy vegetarian food) last week, I stumbled across an exciting new addition coming soon to Carillon City Food Court – FRESHII.
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With the motto of “Eat. Energize” emblazened upon the wall, and promises of healthy bowls, salads, burritos, fresh-pressed juice, soups, frozen yoghurt (& more!) I instantly got excited and started Googling the heck out of this new store which might be about to change my lunchtime life.
I wasn’t disappointed. Freshii is a “healthy-casual” franchise that started in Canada and has been exploding in popularity worldwide.
One of my favourite things about the chain, despite it not having opened here yet, is that the majority of their options are vegetarian & vegan, with the OPTION to add tofu, falafels, or meat. This gets me really stoked because I have found that most places in Perth do offer 1-2 vegetarian options, but the majority are for meat lovers. It looks like Freshii are turning that on it’s head by making 90% of their menu vegetarian, and then allowing the meat lovers a look in. WIN-WIN! In my mind this is how it should always be done and I imagine it would be good for business too.
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Having just returned from an amazing trip to Bali, the promise of “bowls” is what delights me the most. A quick browse of their website reveals not one, not two, but FIVE vegetarian bowls brimming with healthy ingredients for us to enjoy!!! DID I MENTION I’M EXCITED?
Buddha Bowl
rice noodles, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, crispy wontons, green onions, spicy peanut sauce
Pangoa Bowl
brown rice, avocado, aged cheddar, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, cilantro, lime wedge, fiery bbq sauce
Helloooooooooo baby!
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They also have a Superfood Soup, serve breakfasts including delicious sounding porridge, AND you can grab a 3-day juice cleanse from them too. What can’t this company do?
Needless to say I will be first in line when they’re open for business (no word on a date yet) & I can’t wait to give them all of my money.
Have you heard of Freshii before? What is your fave place in the CBD to grab a healthy lunch? I’d love to know so please comment below! 🙂
Love & wellness,
Annette xo
Posted in Food, Green Smoothies, Inner City | 2 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on July 16, 2013
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With the winter months well and truly upon us, it can be so tempting to go into hibernation mode and indulge in comforting foods while our fitness levels quietly disappear. As tempting as this sounds, you might be regretting all those sticky date puddings come spring when pretty little dresses are back in season. Just because its cold and wet, doesn’t mean your health and wellbeing should take a backseat; in fact, with so many cold and flu bugs around, winter is the ideal time to boost your health and immune system.
If you are looking for a place to stock up on all things health and wellness, then Karrinyup Shopping Centre is your one stop shop. Aside from retail giants David Jones and Myer, Karrinyup has a huge offering of health, food and sports stores that are sure to inspire some winter wellness! I spent a day at Karrinyup road testing all of the best places to get your wellness fix, check out what I got up to…
♥ lululemon Karrinyup yoga ambassador Susie McLachlan
♥ lululemon athletica
Everyone’s favourite yoga brand has tapped into a great community initiative and offer complimentary yoga & fitness classes in store. I’m not one for early Saturday mornings, but there was something so serene about starting my weekend with an 8am Yoga class. Lululemon’s classes are for everyone, so think gentle stretching, deep breathing, meditation and flexibility. It’s a bit distracting lying amongst all the colourful Luon and Wunder Unders though – I was picking out my favourites during downward dog, and just had to reward myself after the class!
Lululemon Karrinyup offers instore Yoga classes every Saturday morning, check out their community page for more info.
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♥ T2
After my Yoga class, I floated down the shopping centre to T2 where I spent some time tasting the newest brews on offer. Shopping in T2 really is a treat for the senses, not only does the tea taste and smell amazing but beautifully decorated and bright tea wares fill the store, celebrating the history and art of brewing and drinking tea. My favourite T2 treat is Buddhas Tears, a light green jasmine infusion that delights the senses and warms the soul. Whether you’re really into your tea, or just like the odd spot of English Breakfast, T2 has something for everyone. They are even selling tea biscuits, jam and iced tea now!
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♥ The Coffee Club
The Coffee Club have really spruced up their menu of late, with a large range of healthier meals now available. I stopped by for breakfast, and absolutely devoured the fruit and nut muesli with yoghurt and honey! The atmosphere at Coffee Club is nice too, amongst the buzz of shoppers (staying out of the winter weather probably!) So get along to The Coffee Club, order a fresh juice and a healthy brekkie the next time you’re at Karrinyup and enjoy excellent customer service as well as a nutritious meal!
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♥ Karrinyup Fresh
I love supporting local fruit and veg shops; they seem to be offering such a better product than most supermarket chains. The locally sourced, organic produce is of such a high quality and is really quite kind to your wallet too! Karrinyup Fresh have a great range of fruit and vegetables available, with a lot of Western Australian produce on offer. I also noticed a lot of items that are hard to come by which you might find in the ingredients list of a yummy Asian noodle or curry dish. Stock up on veggies and make some tasty vegetable soups to keep you warm this winter!
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♥ Healthy Life
Healthy Life has been providing premium quality health foods and advice for Australians since 1968 – helping customers achieve and maintain their best health and sense of wellness. Healthy Life have a huge range of vitamins and mineral supplements (stock up on Vitamin C and Echinacea to ward off winter colds!), whole foods, herbal teas, beauty products and sports nutrition and supplements. I picked up some Eco Cacao Powder which I love using for baking!
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♥ Lorna Jane
Inspirational activewear label Lorna Jane have some great winter styles in store at the moment. Put some colour into your cold morning run with gorgeous new tights and tops in bright pink, purple and orange.
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I am loving the new Max Impact Excel longsleeve top in electric purple – guaranteed to keep you warm and stand out in the workout crowd! Make sure you check out Lorna Jane’s gorgeous range of inspirational books and accessories too!
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♥ Dymocks
Australia’s favourite bookstore are now featuring a Healthy, Wealthy & Wise selection of books. Handpicked by Dymocks staff, these titles cover a range of topics including health, wellbeing, self help, religion and recipes. I picked up a couple of interesting titles: Religion For Atheists by Alain de Botton and I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson. Both of these reads are going to be eye opening for me, I am by no means an atheist but always searching for a bit more meaning in life and as for sugar, well, I know I can’t quit it completely but I’m looking forward to reducing my intake as much as I can!
♥ Belén
A day of wellness wouldn’t be complete without a bit of pampering! Belén Karrinyup is the perfect place to switch off from the world and indulge in a bit of luxury for a while. I was very lucky to be treated to a De-Stress Facial, which is a combination of Belén’s signature facial treatment and a 30 minute massage.
This was the most relaxing and rejuvenating hour of my existence. My aching muscles melted away, my skin was deeply cleansed and exfoliated thanks to Dermalogica and I emerged in a state of tranquillity. The staff are fantastic, I was so impressed with their client service and truly felt like a valued customer. I will certainly be back for some more pampering this winter!
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♥ Rawsome Treats at Stockholm Café
Don’t forget to stop by Stockholm Café for one of Rawsome amazing treats! These little winners are the perfect snack for boosting energy levels and curbing cravings all in one little raw, organic and healthy treat. They are so yummy you wont believe it’s healthy!
Review by Lucy Anderson.
* Lucy was a guest of Karrinyup Shopping Centre.
Be well,
xoxo
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Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on July 9, 2013
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I am an almost 23 year old Marketing and Management graduate who lives in Perth/Northbridge/North Perth (the zoning is really weird, we are postcode 6000 but more Northbridge than Perth) with her partner and bulldog. I work 9-5 in the corporate world, and enter my fashion and blogging world via Little Miss Mon Bon outside of those hours. I have always been a dance fanatic and I don’t think I will ever grow out of that!
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I am very minimalist in what I do to/put onto my skin. I have rather fussy skin in as it doesn’t need much (in way of moisturisers or treatments) and it hates a lot. If I am not careful with my products, I will end up with an ugly, bumpy face rash!
Each morning I wash my face with a gentle cleanser (my current favourite is the Neal’s Yard Rose Facial Wash), swipe on some mascara and dabble a little bronzing blush on my cheeks. To remove my makeup at the end of the day, I use the NYR Organic Make up Remover and wash my face with my NYR cleanser again. If I am going to moisturise (which is rare as my skin perspires badly under most moisturisers or breaks out in a rash), I prefer to spritz my face with a hydrating spray such as the NYR Hydrating Frankincense Facial Mist.
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♥ What's the one beauty treatment you can't live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
Massages. Massages for sure! As I am currently trying to save some money to buy new furniture and a car, my new favourite place to get a massage is at home from the boyfriend! Unfortunately I haven’t been able to indulge in a professional massage in a while, but a massage is a massage and I can’t complain. When I am not in money saving mode I like to salon hop and experience different massages from different salons – they all have something different to offer!
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♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
Bee Rizzi at Peggy Sues
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
I really can’t go past a warm bath with Epsom salts. I am continuously aching and sore from dancing, so Epsom salts really are a savior!
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
NYR Rose facial wash, LimeCrime lipsticks and my mascara
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
In all honesty, I find that keeping it simple and just being me works for me! No overkill with the makeup, plenty of sleep and not being on a strict diet have all worked out pretty well for me so far.
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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven't yet?
I would absolutely love to try aerial silks (Tissu). Coming from a dancing background, aerial silks have always fascinated me. The intense muscle toning and strength that would be built up over time would be amazing. I would also like to try pilates and a green smoothie (can you believe I never have?!)
♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Seeing as most of my days are spent at work, I will walk you through my typical work day of eating. My partner and I can go all out with dinners sometimes, so I try and stick to a more healthy/lean breakfast and lunch to balance it all out.
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Breakfast:
♥ A bowl of oats with skim milk or some fruit (summer fruits are the best!) with Mundella greek yoghurt with honey.
♥ One cup of tea (white with one, lemongrass and ginger or chai)
♥ A glass of water
Morning tea:
♥ One cup of tea (white with one, lemongrass and ginger or chai)
♥ Some cheese and crackers or more fruit
Lunch:
♥ Brown rice, tuna, cherry tomatoes, avocado and feta or a ham, lettuce, tomato, avocado and jarlsberg roll
♥ Glass of water
Afternoon tea:
♥ Some cheese and crackers or more fruit
Dinner:
♥ Anything from meat and vegetables to a tuna bake. We don’t really stick to a strict dinner eating plan (but we are working on that in the coming weeks!)
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I am very fortunate to be living a stone’s throw from the city, and working in the CBD. Not only am I super close to work, but I get a good hour or so of walking in when I complete the round trip each day. Each week I take 2 Jazz dance classes on a Wednesday night, and a lyrical dance class on Saturdays. If I am feeling really good, I will go for a jog around Hyde Park.
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♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
I used to use Carla Oates Inner Beauty Powder, but since running out I haven’t repurchased it. I really love it because it is packed full of nutrients and it tastes great – even my partner enjoys it!
♥ 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?
A lot! I love my sleep; I can’t function without a good night of shut eye! Since having glandular fever I find that I get tired very easily, and if I don’t sleep properly it causes all sorts of issues. Each night I get between 7-8.5 hours of sleep, and if I am lucky, I can get a half hour power nap in during the day when I am not working.
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
I absolutely love sitting down with a big mug of tea and lighting some scented candles. If there are a couple of fashion mags thrown in there it becomes complete bliss!
Thanks Monique, check out her blog at Little Miss Mon Bon!
If you have any questions for Monique, please leave a comment below! 🙂
Be well,
xoxo
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Posted in Other | Comments Off on Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Monique Ceccato, Blogger at Little Miss Mon Bon!
