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Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on May 29, 2011
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I am a full-time student currently in my last semester of a double degree in Communications and Commerce at UWA. For the past 4 years I have also done some part-time modeling to help see me through my university studies. Recently I took part in the Western Australian heats for the Australian Miss Universe Competition 2011 and have been selected as 1 of 6 finalists to represent Western Australia at the national finals in Melbourne later this year.
Most recently I was fortunate enough to be able to take part in the Royal Queensbury Corporate Boxing Challenge where I got to combine my love for boxercise with a fabulous cause- raising funds and sponsorship through my fight for Toybox International; a fundraiser for sick and disadvantaged children.
I am your typical active aussie girl; i love going to the beach, exercising, living a healthy lifestyle and spending time with my family and friends.
♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I use the Clinique 3-step skin routine where i cleanse tone and moisturise everyday.
In the mornings before I apply any make-up I will always apply a sunscreen or moisturiser with UVA and UVB protection to my face and neck as I am naturally quite fair and the Australian sun is so strong! I sometimes find that sunscreen will sweat off in summer, however I have found that Ella Bache zinc foundation (Available online at StrawberryNET) is a good product that is long-lasting with good coverage.
♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
Being a blonde with long hair I find it essential to get good hair strengthening and softening treatments. I have found that Kerastase treatments work the best on me and I like to get them done whenever I get my hair done at the salon.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
I have had a few hairdressers that I have tried in Perth however currently I am going to (and loving) Circles Of Subiaco Hair Salon. The team of hairdressers are all fabulous and I also love the vibe at the salon.
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
When I am at home and feel like I need a bit of TLC (on a student budget) I’ll opt to do my own manicures and pedicures. I think that looking after your hands and feet is really important and they are often overlooked even though they are a body part that we use on a daily basis! My grandma and mum have always stressed the importance of having nice looking nails so my favourite at home hand and nail treatment is Dr Lewinn’s hand and and foot scrub and cuticle oil. The hand polish leaves my hands and feet feeling silky smooth and cuticle treatments keeps the skin around my nails and nails looking nice 🙂
Stila Lip & Cheek Stain in Pomegranate -$52
♥ Your two, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
Stila Lip and cheek stain – This product reacts with the natural pigmentation on your skin and formulates a natural and complementary colour to your own skin tone. On me it gives a natural and healthy looking glow that i love!
Nars bronzer (in Laguna): Rather than expose my face to the sun, I will opt for a (fake) bronze look which I can achieve with this product. I have found of all the bronzers that I have tried, Laguna bronzer by Nars gives a really natural glowing look.
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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
Eat healthy, regular exercise, drink lots of water and ALWAYS wear sunscreen! I am a firm believer of the saying ‘we are what we eat’! If you are putting bad things into your body this will reflect on the outside. Likewise if you maintain a healthy balance in your eating habits and lifestyle this will make you glow from the inside out.
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
I have never had a facial and would absolutely love to try it!
I think I have been put off by some people who have had bad experiences, not to mention the price. However I now have a friend who has regular facials who has recently explained to me the process and the benefits. I feel more confident and curious about trying one now.
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
A typical day of eating for me incorporates at least 3 good meals and in-between snacks.
I always start my day with a hearty breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day to me and my favourite and without it I can’t function. Most mornings I will have rolled oats with natural yoghurt and berries or I will make my own bircher with grated apple, nuts and cinnamon.
For lunch it is usually a good serving of protein such as chicken or tuna, with salad in a wrap or on wholegrain bread. If I am in a rush I also like to get sushi and miso soup.
The biggest habit that I try and maintain in my eating is to cut carbs out at night. Although occasionally I will enjoy gnocchi, pasta or share a pizza (I love Italian) I mostly eat fish such as salmon, chicken breast or lean cuts of beef, pork or lamb with salads, beans and steamed vegetables.
During the day I will snack on nuts, fruit, carrot sticks and muesli bars.
I limit myself to one coffee a day (usually soy as I have found that as blood type o I can be susceptible to bloating with dairy).
Although I eat quite healthily, my mum is a chef so I have been brought up around good food and do like to enjoy indulgences from time to time. If I am craving something I allow myself to have it. I love banana bread and dark chocolate!
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
I am quite an active and busy person walking around campus when I am at uni and on my feet when I am at work. However I also always make time to exercise and schedule this in so I can stick to a good routine. I have always been a gym-goer, participating in a range of different classes and running.
However for my Miss Universe training i took part in 3-5 boxercise classes a week at ‘The Ring’ in Northbridge and 1-2 classes of pilates at the Pilates Fitness Institute of WA. If I’m feeling a bit tired I listen to my body and allow myself a rest. Ill either take the time to put my feet up or opt for a walk instead.
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
Currently I am not taking part in any alternative therapies, but I like to use natural remedies and supplements when I can.
I find that a healthy balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables will provide me with many of the nutrients I need, but just to make sure I take a Swisse Womans Ultivite everyday.
As I am very busy I will also take a Vitamin B supplement if I’m feeling more tired than usual. Recently I have been trying Acai berry puree because it is full of anti-oxidants and when I’m feeling stressed I’ll use Bach Flower Rescue Remedy drops.
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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
To relax I cant go past a long hot bath or a massage. When I am feeling stressed having the ability to turn off and stop thinking about the things that are causing that stress makes me feel better. To do this i do stuff where i can lose myself – whether this is going for a walk along the beach, sitting down with a good book or going to have a coffee with a friend. Of course being organised by having a diary, eating healthy, doing exercise and getting enough sleep helps prevent the stress from developing in the first place.
Thank you for taking part in our interview Ashlea! Please leave any questions below!
Be well,
xoxo
Posted in Interviews | 
3 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on May 25, 2011
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Choosing a treatment at a salon or spa, is like trying to choose what flavour you want at the icecream shop. They all look so yummy, and you know they’ll all make you happy (albeit tinged with possible slight regret in the case of icecream!), so you mentally ‘taste’ them all, licking your lips and thinking about the future experience…
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It’s scenes like these that make me contemplate a Personal Icecream Assistant!
These deliberations of the most fun kind are what I experienced when I was trying to pick a ‘Spa Retreat Package’ at Ella Bache in West Perth, who kindly allowed me to trial one for review.
In the end I decided on a Mind & Body Rebalance ($230) because, like most, it’s something I’m constantly in desperate need of!
The two-hour treatment includes a full body Hot Rocks Massage (a delicious alternative to regular massage as the weather cools down) and Shirodhara Therapy, which involves a stream of oil being poured over your third eye, located between the brows and up towards the hairline.
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I’m all about options and customisable treatments, we’re all so different within ourselves on a day-to-day basis, let alone different from each other, that I believe spas and salons REALLY need to make their treatments as bespoke as possible in order to best cater for their clients. With that in mind, I was pleased to be offered the choice between scented and unscented massage. I went for the earthy smelling oils, but am also keen on a scent free massage too, depending on my mood.
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My therapist Maggie did a great job of making sure the rocks were never too hot. At times I thought she might have been a magician, making hot rocks appear out of thin air as I swear her hands never left my body to be able to pick one up!
The highlight of the hot rocks experience was… having my ears massaged! Not with rocks, and just ever so lightly, but I don’t think I’ve ever had that before and my gosh was it dreamy! My little ears must have had a bit of tension pent up in them because they adored the attention.
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Next up, the Shirodhara! But first, a word of warning:
Your hair is going to resemble an oil slick afterwards, plan on being plan-less to capitalise on the goodness of nourishing sesame oil. Your scalp will love it!
During this treatment, a ceramic container is positioned over your ‘third eye’ and oil streams out continuously. It’s a unique feeling, somewhat like a fish nibbling on your forehead! Afterwards I got to take a shower and wash away all the oil (I had somewhere to be!), which was much appreciated. They even provide a hair dryer for you, nice.
The only slight negative to my experience was that it was a little noisy on the Saturday I went in, which meant I couldn’t relax to the full extent that the treatment would have allowed me to. Regardless of that, I felt amazing for the next two days afterwards – very clear and calm.
Haven’t tried a hot rock massage or shirodhara treatment? I certainly recommend it!
Ella Bache West Perth
1260 Hay Street, WEST PERTH, Western Australia, 6005
Ph: (08) 9321 0560
E: ebspa@iinet.net.au
Ella Bache products are available online at StrawberryNET!
If you have tried either of these, or want to, leave a comment!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
Posted in Alternative Therapy, Beauty Salon, Day Spa, Inner City, Massage, Reviews | 3 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on May 24, 2011
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In my elusive search for finding & making ‘me’ time, in order to reflect and just ‘be’ in a self inflicted hectic schedule of work, exercise, socialising & living life in general, I recently attended a 1 day ‘Learn to Meditate’ workshop at the Dharmapala Buddhist Centre in Fremantle accompanied by my ever so supportive Mum!
An avid Wellness devotee, I was well aware of the numerous benefits of mediation but required the 1-0-1 on ‘how to’ meditate. Being a visual learner by nature led me to seek out a local facilitated course, rather than ‘googling’ it & sifting my way through the vast array of information available on the net.
The workshop was facilitated by the Resident Teacher who provided an inspiring and entertaining guide to the essential practices of meditation, including stilling of the mind and contemplative meditation. The course provided the basic instructions needed to incorporate and establish a regular meditation practice into busy daily life.
A delicious vegetarian lunch, morning and afternoon tea were provided which consisted of an abundant assortment of fresh, healthy and re-energising foods.
At the end of the workshop I was inspired to make meditation a part of my daily routine. I’m not quite there yet, however writing this review has reignited my mission to do so! Research shows it takes 21 days to form a habit, so my goal for the next 3 weeks is to take 10 minutes out of my day to meditate, reflect and be grateful & make it a natural part of my daily routine long term.
I would definitely recommend attending the course if you’re seeking guided inspiration for your mediation practice or are just interested in finding out more about meditation in general. The centre volunteers were warm & welcoming and did I mention the food was amazing?!
p.s The course would make a great gift for a loved one.
Visit the Dharmapala Buddhist Centre / Meditation in Perth website for more information on the course structure & other courses available.
Review by Jasmin Chipper meditation rookie, busy expert.
Be well,
xoxo
Posted in Alternative Therapy, Reviews, South of River, Wellness Tips | 1 Comment »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on May 23, 2011
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Brr brr brrr! The past week has been the chilliest in FOREVS. Cold mornings and nights, mixed with an assortment of sky drops lets us know that winter is well and truly ready to swallow us up, forcing a frantic search for stockings, coats and lots of layers.
The week has been equal parts stressful and opportunity filled for yours truly. I’ll soon be gracing the pages of a quarterly mag, my first foray into non-online writing (nervous indeed!) – more details to come when it’s out!
I hope you are rugged up as you’re reading this, maybe sipping on a hot tea? Bliss! Okay, so here are my beauty and wellbeing crushes at the mo:
1. Timezone Two Player Basketball.
Preferably played with a date or significant other, so you can tease them when you, a small lass with no interest in balls that fly into baskets, win by a generous amount. Oops, that’s me! But really, this is a fun way to get your heart-rate up, engage in some competitive bonding and have a laugh. Loser buys the winner a fruit smoothie!
Aussie Moroccan Oil Alternative!
2. Seven Wonders Moroccan Oil Haircare
It’s difficult to find a beauty lover who hasn’t heard of Moroccan Oil before. Offering shine, softness, easy breezy hair management AND a reduction in drying time, Moroccan Oil has had the world at it’s feet for some time now.
BUT, wouldn’t it be great if there was an Australian made, Perth owned version of this? Yes, it would. And there is!
I got to try the Seven Wonders Moroccan Treatment Shampoo, Conditioner and Oil – it has a sweet, nutty smell which I loved and it’s completely free of sulphates (woohoo!) and parabens (yippeee!). Plus it contains certified organic argan oil, the magic ingredient.
Being free of sulphates means that they don’t lather up as much as conventional hair prods, but it’s BETTER FOR YOU! And that’s the most important thing. If you’re a lover of Moroccan Oil, I suggest you test out this brand next time. Support local business and give your hair a rest from a couple of the haircare bad guys.
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3. Hot Lemon Water
Cold weather means hot drinks are even more excellent than usual. I’ve never been a coffee drinker, but even if you are, maybe you could try this alternative next time you’re choosing some hot liquid to warm you up? Alkalising, detoxing, yummy and cleansing, it ticks all the boxes! I had me some hot lemon water this morning and felt so great afterwards. This tradition will continue. Join me?! xo
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4. Coconut Water
Another drink I’ve been loving is coconut water, specifically the Beyond Coconut Water because it’s packaged in a glass bottle, which is better for you than plastic bottles and cardboard containers. I’ve taken a fancy to eating baked beans on toast with a bottle of coconut water post-personal training sessions and I feel like it helps me rehydrate, feel great, and the bbontoast are just a delicious source of protein to help my lil muscles recover quicker.
Ultra Tiny Link Love:
♥ http://www.just-a-minute.org/ – such a radical little way to bring yourself some peace in 60 seconds during the work day. I tried it and felt much calmer. Love!
♥ Cashew, Coconut Pudding Brekky Recipe – de.lic.ious.
Hope you enjoyed this weeks!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
Posted in Products, Wellness Tips | 8 Comments »
Posted by Annette @ Wellness WA on May 22, 2011
Keeping the spark in life by living every moment!
♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hi! I’m Hannah. I have an awesome day job as a Project Manager, and I moonlight as a Foodologist running my own business and blog, A Foodly Affair. I am passionate about mindful eating and about helping others to find their foodly philosophy – mostly through food coaching and uncooking classes. In between times, I love to write, read, sing, dream and spend time with the people who are important to me.
Cake of Soap – Goats Milk Soap
♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
What is this thing you call a “daily beauty routine”…? I wash with either my own (edible) unsoap, or with a plain goats milk soap from Cake of Soap. Although I don’t cleanse or tone, I usually moisturise – with a basic shea or nut butter.
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♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
My unmissable beauty treatment is one that works from within: green juice. Rawfood Karen got me hooked. My favourite blend comprises kale, celery, apple, ginger, parsley, lemon & honey. It’s super easy to make, gives you a serious and immediate energy boost from the time it hits your lips, is great for your skin, and is a real tonic for your system.
♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
For the last few months, no one. It’s an experiment in progress. When I’m not feeling experimental, it’s Element Aveda in Subi. All the staff there are fabulous and I appreciate the Aveda philosophy.
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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
Coconut oil. Raw, organic coconut oil on your face and body, in your smoothies, desserts and main meals. So incredibly excellent for you, inside and out.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
1. Pawpaw ointment
2. My scent – Flower, by Kenzo
3. Soy candles from PinkLoveTank
♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
No secrets. I think everyone could eat more raw food, for the enzymes and energy. Whatever you do, enjoy it and be present with it. Nurture yourself with the best wholefoods you can get your hands on (organic and bio-dynamic where possible), drink plenty of water, have regular exercise and sunshine, breathe deeply, and trust in others & the universe.
♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)
Acupuncture. Now, if only I can avert my aversion to needles…
Yummo! Chia porridge!
♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
On a weekday, I like to start the day with chia porridge – but I usually wake up too late and resort to making a chia smoothie for the road, which I drink from a jar at my first meeting. If you’re playing along at home, remember that blue (from blueberries) + green (from spirulina) = grey! It tastes great, but colleagues will wince and ban you from bringing homemade juices or smoothies into work ever again.
Snacks are a nut & superfood mix (eg. goji berries, macadamias, cacao nibs, coconut shavings, almonds, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, cashews). My current vice is coffee, and I have a 2 per day habit. I also try to drink lots of water between meals.
Lunch is often a green smoothie or a raw burger from Club Zing.
Dinner starts with coconut water, a raw salad or a green juice, then a soup, pasta or curry – sometimes raw, sometimes not. I enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner on most nights.
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♥ Describe your workout routine / how you keep fit?
Have you tried the 9 minute extreme cardio workout yet? I just about killed myself with it last week.
I am just getting back into whole body vibration (2-3 times/week) because I love what it does for my body shape and endocrine system. I run and practise yoga when I make the time. Oh, and I got hooked on surfing after just one lesson at David Wolfe’s Samudra Retreat earlier this year, so I am determined to make this my Winter sport.
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements?
I use different therapies for different issues/energies. When I am low in energy, I’ll book in for a bioresonance session. I have also tried and enjoy reiki, theta healing, far infrared saunas, music, meditation and essential oils.
♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
I love a good belly laugh with my little person – and I try to get out of mobile range as often as possible.
Posted in Interviews | 3 Comments »
