love the gym (learning to)

via Pinterest

I will start this post with a caveat. I have never been a gym person. Nor do I think I ever will become a gym person. But I am learning to enjoy getting fit and at the moment, that involves a gym. 

I reluctantly joined a gym that is located less than 3 minutes from my place of work (one of the draw cards - in addition to a sweet deal that was too good to refuse!) In the past, I would join a gym, go maybe once a week and end up trying to work my way out of the membership because I found myself on the couch more nights than at the gym. 

One of the main factors that is getting me off my butt and into the gym is the fact that my wedding date that is fast approaching (5 months and counting!) I don't have some massive weight loss target or anything crazy, but I just want to tone up and feel fit, happy and healthy on the day. 

In an effort to get a head start, I have been seeing a personal trainer twice a week, however this has dropped back to one session a week due to daylight savings. It gets dark around 5pm now and it's far too dangerous to be out in the park when it's pitch black. Enter: gym membership. 

On the plus side, my gym is relatively quiet - the most I've seen is maybe 5 or 6 people at the gym at any one time. The muscle-men are always downstairs near the weights, pumping iron and looking at themselves in the mirror. Perfect, because I don't want to be anywhere near them! I pop straight upstairs and jump on the treadmill for 30/40mins, followed by 20mins on the bike. With iPod blasting and a few game shows to watch on the tele, the time flies and my workout is done. 

I am trying to get my cardio fitness up. I've never enjoyed running, but I desperately want to be able to run - it looks so effortless and clearly, it's a great way to tone up and get fit. But I find it the most awkward and uncoordinated thing in the world. But I'm trying to turn that around. I'm slowly building up my running on the treadmill. Nothing like running in real life, but it's a start. 

I am really good at talking myself out of going to the gym. "I'm too tired", "I need to go to the shops", "I just want a quiet night" - but when I found these words of inspiration, I realised how insignificant those excuses are. I'll leave work on time, my workout will be finished by the time I would normally start packing up my desk. I'll sweat it out, listen to some of my favourite tunes, clear my head and re-energise. After all, it's only 4% of my day. 

~ love tips 
Please share your fitness tips with me - I need all the help I can get!

~ love new music 
Always on the lookout for new music to keep my pace going on the treadmill! Currently I'm loving Prince! 

love eyebrows

via our vanity

I've been in rehab. Brow rehab. It's taken me about 2 years, but I have finally quit plucking! 

I'd had enough of my thin, un-even brows and decided it was time to do something about it so I paid a visit to the girls at Benefit Brow Bar. After years of over-plucking, I had made quite a mess of my poor little brows. 

The Benefit girls explained the issues I had with my brows in their current state (thin, un-even, too far apart) and showed me the brow shape that I needed to work towards. They tidied them up and sent me on my way with strict instructions NO PLUCKING. I had to come back in 4 weeks and show them the progress... 

It didn't happen overnight, but I am happy to say that brow rehab was one of the best things I ever did! I now have fuller, thicker brows that frame my face and enhance my eyes. I love my brows! 

These days, I maintain them with threading every 4 weeks. I'm not going to lie, threading hurts me just as much as waxing (but I do have sensitive skin so it goes red and ouch-ey). I love the result from threading and I have found a really great lady that does a damn fine job in Bondi Junction!

I also get my brows tinted every 4 weeks (2 shades darker than my hair colour) and I turn to my brow zings set from Benefit, which is brilliant for closing the gaps in between tints. 

~ love these tricks

speed brow and brow zings from Benefit 

~ love tidy brows

Waxing - Benefit Brow Bar

Threading - Catwalk Hair and Beauty

love coffee

Flat White @ Flat White

I've always been a "one a day" coffee drinker. Flat White. Soy. The stronger the better. 
But I went off coffee for about 2 years. Major withdrawals - yes, followed by a long and pleasant love affair with tea (and tea cups). 

Like every addict, I eventually got back on it. In London of all places. Not exactly the coffee capital of the world. But I was lucky, as I knew where to get my hit as soon as the cravings hit. Soho. 

Many years ago, I visited this coffee shop called Flat White. 
Best. Coffee. In. London.
One cup and I was hooked. Again. 

I tried to fight it, but I could't resist. I Googled "best coffee in London". Found some other options closer to home. My daily grind was from Coffee Plant - always cranking dance music despite the time of day. Excellent coffee. Always a few crazy characters in there that probably haven't been home yet. 

Another great spot was Kensington Square Kitchen. I had great coffee and a brilliant hangover cure breakfast there too.

Now I'm back home in Sydney, I had the opportunity to acquaint myself with a few new cafes that popped up while I was away. I mentioned some of my favourites here, but there is an ever-growing number of new cafes that open in Bondi. It's my mission to try them all, one weekend at a time.

But from Monday to Friday my need for a caffeine hit actually gets me out of bed and off to work! Our office was given a Nespresso machine at Christmas and although I was reluctant to get on board at first, I've actually jumped ship. After trial and error, I've finally found my match in those little pods of goodness. While I know the coffee purists wouldn't approve, I'm going with it - mostly because I resent paying anything over $3.50 for a coffee (don't penalise me because I can't drink normal milk and have to opt for soy). 


~ love London
best coffee in London via Time Out

~ new coffee love
Double Roasters, Marrickville 
Bondi Picnic, Bondi 

love a list

via real simple

I am a list maker. It helps clear my brain. Puts all those thoughts on paper to make room for other activity.

I write work lists, trying to prioritise. I write shopping lists, to make a nice dinner. I write clothes wish lists, in an attempt to fill my wardrobe with the classic and most versatile items that will mix and match with everything I already own. I have a home list, of things that need attention and things that we need to fix. Restaurants to try, makeup to buy, places to visit, people to call, appointments to make, the lists go on and on.

I know there are people that write lists just to cross things out. I might be one of those people!? Hmmm no, I really think I need them to clear my thoughts, otherwise I forget!!

love breakfast

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day"

It is also my favourite meal of the day! Love breakfast. There is something truly exciting about waking up to break-the-fast! For me it is also a necessity, as I really cannot function without food in my tummy. Especially in the morning.

Most mornings I have cereal, some kind of homemade combo of puffed rice, millett, corn flakes, shredded coconut, LSA, chia seeds with rice milk and some blueberries on top. But I've been switching things up a bit lately.

The 'cold morning' foods have hit the supermarket - two of which I love - crumpets and porridge. I've been trying out Quinoa flakes and making myself porridge. It's the perfect comfort food - warming, milky and sweet (with stevia or honey added).

It's hard to beat a hot crunchy crumpet topped with honey or vegemite - (or maybe one of each!) I really want to try and make my own one day. I have this Bill Granger book and having been meaning to make this recipe for crumpets and blackberry butter, it looks delicious.

I've also been loving toast with almond spread, I'm currently coveting this almond and chia spread. I sprinkle the top with a bit of cinnamon and it's delish!

Weekends are all about going out for breakfast, the cafes around my 'hood are spilling over with people tucking into eggs & bacon and getting their morning caffine hit. Some of my local favourites include Luigi's and Harry's - both offer delicious breakfast options and excellent coffee.

~ love to try (these are on my To Do list)
Cafe Zohara
The Favourite Child

~ love coffee (probably worth it's own post)
HTB prefers Harry's or Organic Republic
I also like Gusto, Earth Food Store and new discovery Bru Coffee 

~ love something sweet
Roy's do the most amazing mixed berry muffins, the texture is dense but moist and the top is crunchy! Sooooo good.
HTB loves the Pain au chocolat from Organic Republic

love sunshine

via Favim

Growing up, my Mum was pedantic about getting us to apply sunscreen every single time we went out into the sun to protect our fair skin. It used to annoy the hell out of me!

In my early twenties I used to go out into the sun and bake myself, the browner the better. I remember getting so burnt on my shoulders that it blistered. Yeeoowwwcchhh. But these days, I am much more careful and I know my Mum was right when she told us "you'll thank me when you're older".

I have incorporated daily sunscreen into my regime for a while now and it's not as painful as it seemed when I was a teenager. As I get older I have noticed the early signs of sun damage on my face and a lot of it is irreversible (that is unless you have lots of money to throw at laser treatments and the like...)

Living by the beach, it's part of our routine to go for a quick dip on the weekends before breakfast. But I always apply sunscreen before we leave the house. And I hassle HTB about putting it on too!

I avoid prolonged sun exposure and can't stand the idea of spending an entire day at the beach baking myself in the sun. Funny how things change, isn't it.

While Summer is well and truly behind us, I can't deny myself the opportunity to sit out in our backyard on a nice sunny morning with the paper and a hot cuppa, letting the sun warm my back.

~ love these sunscreen-ers

Basil Bangs - Chaplin Stripe - I so want one of these for Summer 2012!

To Save Face from Mecca Cosmetica - apply everyday under your moisturiser. It's non-greasy, is absorbed quickly and doesn't leave your face shiny.

love your skin

As a teenager, my skin flared with spots around the age of 16 and I battled to keep it under control until I went onto some pretty hardcore medication called Roaccutane. While my skin got worse before it got better, it was the only thing that worked for me. I lived virtually zit-free for a decade until I hit my late twenties. I went through some stressful and and difficult changes in my life and it all came out in the form of the delightful and most unattractive, adult acne.

While all this bad stuff was happening, I couldn't understand why I had been hit with the ugly stick. Why me - again? What have I done to deserve this? So I started to look at alternative medicine. I figured there must be another way to get it under control - other than taking the Pill, taking drugs, applying all these lotions and potions. So I started seeing a Chinese herbalist and acupuncturist. I found the whole process really interesting and it made me think a lot about my body, what I put into it, how it functions and how I can help myself by changing eating habits, etc. I also had to take some pretty disgusting herbs and it was like a big detox, but somehow I felt like it was doing me good. 

After a year, I had seen some improvement but I still had nasty breakouts. I decided that I had given this holistic approach a red-hot crack, but it just wasn't working. I knew that I had explored all the options and tried the natural approach. So I was at peace when I decided to go and see my GP, ask for a referral to a Dermatologist and go back on Roaccutane. I have to say, I was quite hesitant to start with but I knew I had to do this for myself. It was affecting my self confidence, I hated the way I looked, I was embarrassed to see anyone.

After 9 months of treatment, I have completed the course and I am cured! I haven't had a breakout in over 6 months (touch wood), my skin is consistently clear and I am so thrilled with the results. Finally, at the ripe old age of 30, I can say that I am pretty darn happy with the way my skin looks.

I have spent a lot of time, money and effort on my skin over the years. But I have realised how important it is to love your skin. No, it's not always perfect - I still bare the scars which serve as a constant reminder. But I am so grateful that finally, I can wake up every morning and a feel confident - my skin is clear.

~ love some help 

all about acne 

love soup

Photography by Mark O'Meara

As soon as Autumn hits, I start to crave the warmth and comfort of soup. My Mum used to make delicious soups like pumpkin, vegetable & barley, potato & leek (recipes to follow) and I have enjoyed recreating these favourites in my own kitchen. Recently, I felt the onset of a cold and I was inspired to make Chicken Noodle Soup.

This recipe is a common cure for the cold and it was a remedy I was prepared to try. I didn't have time to make my own stock (it's on the To Do List but you can find info here) so I bought the best quality liquid stock I could find in the supermarket, grabbed a BBQ chicken and all the other ingredients were either growing in my garden or already in my cupboard - easy!

Below is the recipe I made which is a combo of a couple that I found here and here.

Seriously, there is nothing better than the smell of onion and garlic sauteeing in the pan. Mmmmmm YUM! The end result was a delicious, tasty soup that made me feel better instantly!

Chicken Noodle Soup

1/2 brown onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic finely chopped

1 stick of celery chopped in cubes

1 big carrot chopped in cubes

1 big zucchini chopped in cubes

1 bay leaf

5 sprigs of thyme tied together with string

1 tbspn olive oil 

1 blob of butter 

1-1.5L Chicken Stock (enough to cover mix by 2-3 inches)

1/2 BBQ chicken, shredded

Gluten free noodles or spaghetti broken up into 1 inch pieces 

Cracked pepper and chopped parsley to garnish

Directions:

Sautee onion and add garlic together with the butter and a bit of oil in a big saucepan until transparent, add celery and carrot and sautee for 3 mins, then add zucchini and cook for 2 mins. Add bay leaf, thyme, chicken stock and shredded chicken and bring to the boil. Add noodles/spaghetti and cook until soft/al dente.  Serve in generous bowls and add cracked pepper chopped parsley to garnish. Serve with toast or fresh bread - as you wish! 

Chicken Noodle Soup IS good for the soul...

love your lips

 via Pinterest

Lip gloss, lip butter, lip balm, lip stick, lip jelly, lip glaze, lip conditioner
I love them all! 

It's fair to say, I have a collection in my make up drawer that a) means I could wear a different one everyday and b) probably needs to be culled! I do love a gimmick, but it's true that we always go back to our favourites.

For me, the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lip Balm is the only thing that nourishes my dry, cracked lips. I've tried them all, Lucas Paw Paw, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, Burt's Bees, ChapStick, Kiehl's, Blistex, Carmex, Vaseline - you name it. I've probably tried it.

Now, I've read a few articles lately that were quite timely as I've been giving this whole lip balm thing a lot of thought. After looking through my array of lip 'treatments' I realised that most of them contain yucky ingredients that should be avoided! Petrochemicals derived from petroleum - WTF - are more likely to create a barrier on your lips than actually moisturise or do anything - except maybe make you continue to apply that stuff over and over again. Addictive isn't it?

I also discovered this when my old mate Lucas Paw Paw just wasn't cutting the mustard and didn't moisturise my lips at all. Apparently this stuff contains petroleum too. So I have had it on good advice that the best alternative is Suvana Paw Paw & Honey Organic Lip Balm. I am also keen to try the Miessence Jaffa Lip Balm as anything with a chocolatey flavour has got to be a winner!

My other new thing is lip colour - something I was always kind of afraid of. Lipstick just didn't seem right for me, I have always preferred the look and feel of a glossy lip than a dry matt lip. Plus I'm always afraid of drawing outside the lines and ending up like a scary clown. But I have been overhauling my make up regime of late and decided it was time to give some lippie a try. I have experimented with some of the more affordable brands - Revlon and Covergirl and I'm LOVING it! It's fun to add that pop of colour to my face in the morning - I feel all grown up! So much so, I even bought myself a little make up bag (that now comes with me everywhere) and it contains a bevy of new lip options plus a few key items in case I need a touch up.

So, show your lips some love!


~ Tips
Before I start my makeup, I apply a nice coat of lip balm to soften and moisturise my lips. That way, by the time I get to lipstick, they are prepped and ready to go!
Lip primer and Lip liner is a MUST for a bold red lip. 
I have been using Benefit Lip Plump and it works a charm. 
Then I follow with the Lip Liner to create a nice framework for the lippie.

~ Love to try
Suvana Paw Paw & Honey Organic Lip Balm

Miessence Jaffa Lip Balm

~ Love my current obsessions
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lip Balm about $3 from pharmacy (will use until it runs out, then I will try the Suvana!)
Stila Lip Glaze in Raspberry retails for $48 at Mecca Cosmetica - BUT if you are into online shopping see note below
Benefit Lip Plump

~ Love a deal
ASOS are selling Stila Lip Glaze for $24.33 and they also have a super deal which I have included Stila Lip Glaze Set SAVE 150%

~ Want more
Addicted 2 Lip Balm
Naturally Safe have a huge range of natural, organic makeup and cosmetics

love a long lunch

Husband to be (HTB) booked us in for a long lunch at Manfredi at Bells this Easter Sunday. Bells at Killcare is situated in a beautiful part of the world, on the Bouddi Peninsula near quaint little villages like Hardy's Bay, Pretty Beach and Wagstaffe. 


Arriving for lunch, we were both ravenous but opted for a drink in the lounge before settling in for the afternoon. The restaurant has a relaxed but sophisticated feel - comfy lounges overlooking manicured gardens and beachy blue and white striped blinds that line the verandah. 


I am a sucker for gardens, so before we left I set out to take a few pics. They have a kitchen garden that supplies a range of fresh veggies, herbs and greens to the restaurant. I actually saw the kitchen-hand picking rosemary - proving that it isn't just for show! We had a fabulous time, beautiful food, relaxing atmosphere, great staff and a stunning location. 


Having only spent a little bit of time around the Central Coast, we decided to make a mini-break of it and stay overnight. After an early morning stroll and quick breakfast, we decided to head to the Bouddi National Park. We walked to Maitland Bay which was a reasonable hike and got the blood pumping - but it's impossible not to enjoy the beautiful clean air, the breeze through the trees and the promise of a pristine beach at the end! 




~ Tips 
Killcare is about 1.5hrs drive north of Sydney 


~ Love to eat 
Manfredi at Bells 


~ Love to walk
Bouddi National Park


~ Want more? 
Visit NSW - Central Coast

love Easter

via Pinterest

What's not to love? 4 days off work, a chance to catch up with friends, relax, potter around the house, enjoy some yummy food and last but not least, Easter eggs! 

It only occurred to me recently, that Easter is probably my favourite holiday. Growing up I remember the pure excitement of Easter Sunday, running outside to our beautiful garden for the annual Easter egg hunt. My sister and I would find the brightly coloured tinfoil eggs hidden under leaves, in the pot plants and inside the shoes sitting at the front door. Of course we had to split the total evenly between us! 

Last year we stayed local and had a "Feaster" lunch in our backyard with friends. I couldn't resist buying the little people a set of bunny rabbit ears and a fluffy tail. So cute! We organised an egg hunt for them and it brought back all these great memories.

I also remember egg decorating with Crayola pens, experimenting with dye and glitter and all sorts (and making lots of mess!) It might be time to revisit some of these old skills and see if I still have it! 

If you're looking for something creative to take your mind off all things chocolate, I have included some ideas below. I had to make special mention of my favourite chocolatey treats! 

Happy Easter! Remember it's the only time that it's socially acceptable to eat chocolate for breakfast!

~ Tips
Keep a secret stash of eggs in the back of the cupboard so you don't eat them all in one hit!

~ Love arts and crafts 
Egg dyeing 101
Decorating Easter Eggs 

~ Love Egg-cellent eggs 
Haighs 
Malteaster Bunnies - a new discovery and a new addiction! 

love to explore

Over the weekend I jumped in the car with a couple of friends (and a beautiful Cavoodle) and we hit the road! We visited one of my favourite areas in NSW, the Southern Highlands. There is something about this place, it is close enough to Sydney to make it an easy day trip but once you are there, it feels like you are a million miles away.

We stopped for lunch at a gorgeous cafe called Gardeners' Kitchen in Bundanoon. We scoured the local antique stores for treasures, I picked up a great vintage-style wall clock from Nest and Burrow, stopped at a roadside fruit and veg shop for some fresh punnets of Blueberries and enjoyed a fabulous meal at Biota Dining.

If you are heading down this way, Biota Dining is a must. We had dinner in The Lounge, watching the last of daylight savings recede, the ducks playing on the pond, it was bliss! We shared croquettes, a ploughman's platter, crispy spiced squid, pea mint and persian fetta salad and possibly the best coffee I have ever had outside the Sydney metropolitan area.

What I loved most (besides my gorgeous friends, the fresh air, the Autumn leaves and the devonshire tea) - was the the thrill of discovering these cute little towns filled with interesting characters (in particular the shop keeper at Nest and Burrow who reminded me of a country version of Patsy from AbFab), the sense that you have had a long weekend away but it's only been a day trip and the wonderful things I collected along the way.


There's more to explore and I can't wait to get back!



~ Tips
Most shops close around 4pm on a Saturday so make sure you set off early

~ Love to Eat
Gardeners' Kitchen - 27 Railway Ave, Bundanoon (next to the Bundanoon Bloomery)
Biota Dining - Kangaloon Rd, Bowral 
Highlands Delights - Illawarra Hwy, Sutton Forest

~ Love to Shop
Nest and Burrow - next door to Gardeners' Kitchen
Everything Store - Cnr Exeter Rd & Illawarra Hwy, Sutton Forest
The Village Pump Antiques - Middle Road, Exeter
Lancelot Hill Antiques - 379 Bong Bong St, Bowral
Dirty Janes Emportium & Antique Market - Shop 5, 391 Bong Bong Street, Bowral
Barbara's Storehouse - 350 Bong Bong Street, Bowral

~ Want More?
Southern Highlands Tourism
SMH article Follow the Foodies