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Hi everyone! As we all know, 2013 is just around the corner. When the clock strikes midnight we’ll be transported into a brand new year – how exciting is that?! A brand new year to look after yourself, strive to feel as healthy as possible, reach towards your biggest goals and dreams & live the life you’ve always wanted to. Every day is a chance to take a step closer to it. You can do it!

Instead of a resolution this year, I’m adopting a mantra for 2013:

The amazing Marie Forleo said this, and it’s already helping me stay on track – whenever I have a decision to make I think of this mantra and whether my actions are going to work towards radiance, or detract from it. Powerful stuff!

I’m also going to be doing the following: drinking water, eating veggies, sleeping, breathing, and moving. No pressure though, just doing the best I can.

So without further chit-chat I present to you the most read articles* of 2012 on Wellness WA!

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1. Wellness WA Green Smoothie Database – seems a lot of people were getting in on the green drink action this year, something I hope to continue exploring and experimenting with in 2013!

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2. Where Can I Get a Fish Pedicure in Perth? – great question, check out my answer in the post!

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3. Health Food Focus: Natvia Natural Sweetener – with the surge in people interested in quitting sugar thanks to Sarah Wilson’s fantastic “I Quit Sugar” E-book, this recipe post about sugar alternative Natvia was a raging success!

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4. The Wonders of Pomegranates: A Three Way Pomegranate Ritual – a fantastic article on how drinking, eating, and using pomegranates on your skin is wonderful for your wellbeing and beauty!

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5. Product Review: Nature’s Botox Alternative – nuff said! People want the results of medical skincare, without the needles.

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6. Perth Market Review: Stirling Farmers Market – a new trial farmers market popped up in Stirling this year, and thanks to the support of local residents it got the go ahead from the council to keep running. Yippee!

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7. Quinoa and Where to Buy it in Perth – it’s been a good year for quinoa, this post will let you know where to pick up this super healthy superfood!

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8. Wellness Recipe: Superfood Raw Fudge Balls – I can personally attest to the yumminess of these, in fact I just whipped up a batch as I was writing this post!

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9. Perth’s Newest Deluxe Day Spa: Endota, Perth CBD – this new spa in the heart of our beautiful city caused quite a whirlwind of excitement when it launched in March. If you’ve not been yet you should certainly do yourself a favour in the New Year.

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10. Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Emma Smyth, Model – Nutrition Student – Wellness Blogger – local beauty & blogger Emma caused traffic numbers to spike dramatically in the day we posted her interview (and ever since!). A combination of her gorgeous looks, holistic approach to nutrition and exercise and her bubbly personality made this one of the top interviews we’ve done so far. Check her out!

* Some of them may not have been written in 2012, but have resonated with people this year.

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Those who know me and my style of baking are well aware that I try to use natural sweeteners instead of refined sugar in my baking projects. I am forever playing around with natural sweeteners such as coconut sugar/raw honey/date paste, in order to ‘healthify’ any dessert recipe!

You can only imagine my curiosity and excitement when a package of Natvia goodies was express posted to my door. The healthy baking goddess inside me was screaming out, YAY!

♥ Stevia Plant

♥ What It Is:

Natvia is a natural sweetener made from Reb A stevia, and erythritol. Reb A is the purest and sweetest parts of the stevia plant, and erythritol is naturally occurring nectar in fruits, such as melons and grapes.

♥ Health Benefits:

Natvia is 100% natural and fructose free, has 95% fewer calories than sugar, contains no aspartame, or saccharin and it’s great for baking and cooking.
Another bonus- Natvia tastes nothing like artificial sweeteners. Because it’s natural, there are no nasty chemicals and no bitter aftertaste.

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♥ Recipe Idea:

An interesting ingredient calls for an even more interesting recipe. But what could I possibly make!?!? Muffins…boring. Cookies…done that. Raspberry Streusel Bars that are both gluten free and vegan?…Delicious. These even got the thumbs up from the guys at work. Bonus!

Recipe adapted from: www.elanaspantry.com

Makes 16 bars

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♥ Crust:

– 2 cups almond meal
– ¼ teaspoon sea salt
– 2 tablespoons coconut oil
– 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
– 1 tablespoon water
• Pulse ingredients together in a food processor until dough forms a ball
• Press dough into a lined square baking pan
• Bake at 180°c (fan forced) for 12 minutes

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♥ Streusel Topping:

– ¼ cup coconut oil
– ¼ cup almond meal
– 2 tablespoons Natvia
– ½ teaspoon sea salt
– 1 cup walnuts
– ½ cup shredded coconut

• Pulse oil, almond flour, natvia and salt together in a food processor until combined
• Briefly pulse in walnuts and coconut, so they are left coarse, not pulverized
• Set streusel aside

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♥ Filling:

– 1 cup raspberries (either frozen or fresh)
– 4 pitted medjool dates (soak in water for a few hours before to soften)

• Process raspberries and the soaked dates in a food processor or blender until combined
• Spread raspberry mixture over warm crust
• Sprinkle streusel topping over raspberry mixture
• Bake at 180°c for 15 minutes
• Cool for 10 minutes, then refrigerate for 2 hours to set
• Cut up & serve!

Store remaining bars in the fridge for up to 1 week.

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These bars can also be served warm as a delightfully healthy autumn dessert. Just add a little vanilla ice cream or Greek yoghurt & raw honey. See, life without refined sugar isn’t so bad at all!

♥ Where To Find It:
Natvia can be found at Coles and Woolworths or online, try Aussie Health Products.

Find out more about quitting sugar with Sarah Wilson’s “I QUIT SUGAR” E-book!

Article by Kavisha, self confessed ‘health foodie’ who believes a little dessert is good for the soul. She is currently studying for her Master of Wellness at RMIT University and blogs at Style My Coconut.