Fundraising

It is very hard to try and support the foundations we would like to help out, however we must remember that every little bit counts. So donating $10 here and there, even though its a small amount, it really goes a long way!

Every year I try to support significantly to one foundation, as well as donating a few coins here and there to the door knockers, and highway volunteers. This year I was fortunate enough to be able to help out three amazing foundations - the Breast Cancer Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Australia and the Cancer Council.

One friend had a "Pink Ribbon Breakfast" to raise money for the Breast Cancer Foundation and another has an annual "Australian's Biggest Morning Tea" to raise money for the Cancer Council. I had an "Ovarian Cancer Australia" fundraiser morning tea too. 

It is so easy to host a fundraiser, an is a lot of fun as well. You simply contact the foundation, get the ok to go ahead, they will sometimes sned you some info of the symptoms etc to put up at your fundraiser, and often send you some merchandise to sell to. You ask people to bring a donation amount (mine was $20), and you supply them with morning tea. It is a great way to catch up with friends and raise money for a great cause at the same time!

Fundraisers don't have to be for Cancer foundations either, they can be for animal shelters, Hospitals (Dry July is a great one to raise money for a cancer research at a particular hospital of your choice), Mental Illness foundations etc.

To hold a fundraiser, just go to the website of the foundation you would like to support and look at their "fundraising" section - if there isn't one, just find the "contact us" tab and give them a call or e-mail.

Coco for Coconuts

I am obsessed with Coconut, I love to eat it, put it in museli, use the oil in smoothies, drink Coconut water... everything, love it!

I wanted to share some of the benefits of Coconuts...

1. Coconut is considered a "functional food" as it is rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals

2. Coconuts contain Lauric Acids, these help keep your digestion up to scratch and boost the immune system.

Coconut Water:

1. Helps with weight loss as it speeds up the metabolism

2. Helps Hydrate your body as it has many natural electrolytes (Cocobella Coconut Water has 5)

3. Unlike Coconut Milk, Coconut Water doesn't contain much fat, so is a guilt free way to enjoy a little big of sweet each day.

Coconut Oil:

1. Coconut Oil contains 50% Laric Acid

2. Boost energy and endurance

3. Kills germs and viruses such as te flue, herpes, measles and other illnesses.
4. Coconut Oil also helps improve Magnesium and Calcium absorption.

I have 1 jar at home for cooking, 1 at work for my morning smoothies and 1 by my bed for moisturising each night. It smells amazing, is delicious and so so good for you!

Here are some of the brands I have tried...

For more info on the goodness of Coconuts please visit: http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

Fresh Juice

There are many benefits from drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juice each day.

Not only does it make you feel great but it is a feat source of energy and vitamins and minerals your body needs to function at its best throughout the day.

I have done a little research and found the following fun facts about the importance of juicing and consuming your fruit and veggies each day.

When you drink your fruits and vegetables you absorb up to 80% more of the nutrients!

Fruit and Veggie juice reduces the amount of work your digestive organs have to do and has been show to increase the health of the liver and kidneys. Not only does this lead to better immunity and overall better long term health, but a cleaner and healthier liver also helps with weight loss.

Drinking fresh fruit and veggie juice can also prevent diseases such as cancer – although no cancer is completely preventable, keeping your fruit and veg intake up is a lifestyle decision that is believed to reduce the risk of developing cancers.

My fave juices are Oranges, Apples, Mint, Spinach, Cucumber, Celery, Ginger and Carrots all mixed together and consumed cold. Or Watermelon, Mint and Apple served on ice on a hot day.

If your not a fan of veggie juice, OJ is a great alternative. It is high in Vitamin C which is great for your immune system, and it is also high in the following vitamins and minerals:

- Folic Acid which boosts brain health

- B Vitamins which is good for the production of haemoglobin in the body

- Beta carotene which helps prevent cell damage

- Calcium which is good for bone health

- Potassium which is helpful in maintaining normal blood pressure

- Pectin which is a dietary fibre which assists in maintaining a healthy weight.

For more fun facts about juicing please visit boostjuice.com.au or thedailymind.com

Bok Choy, Orange, Tomato, Carrot, Apple, Spinach, Ginger, Chia seeds, Coconut Oil (make sure you melt it prior to adding it into your juice. I only use a teaspoon and melt it by putting it in a heat proof dish over a saucepan with boiling water in it - don't use the microwave, the good fats will melt away)

Clean Eating 101

Sorry for the lack of posts - getting up at 5am 3 times a week is exhausting - but great fun and makes you feel fantastic!

So thought I would give you an update on my meals.

For the first few weeks I was having a protein shake consisting of berries, fat free natural yoghurt, chia seeds, water, coconut oil and vanilla protein powder (a good brand is Sun Warrior - its $$ though but lasts a while).

I have since switched to porridge as I was getting a little bored with the same thing every day. I buy the High Fibre Uncle Toby's sachets of porridge (not flavoured), and use hot water, manuka honey and coconut oil to mix it into a warm breaky. I add berries, yoghurt and chia seeds for a little extra flavour.

For lunch I have been having meat and salad:

This is a chicken sausage roll made with chicken breast, grated zucchini and garlic, wrapped in a rye wrap and put in the oven for 30 mins.
The salad is made with avocado, spinach, tomato, spring onion, chia seeds and olive oil.

This salad is the same as above with tofu which has been cooked in olive oil and garlic, and a, organic Mediterranean veggie burger from IGA.

This salad is the same as above minus the Tofu. Then I have a sausage roll made with Steak instead of Chicken.

It is easy to eat clean if you are organised - doing a big cook on a Sunday and freezing your meals until you need them is a great way to get around planning your clean eating week.

Getting in Shape for Smmer

Over 12 weeks I will be doing the Ashy Bines Bikini Body Challenge. This challenge involves regular exercise with professional trainers and a clean eating diet.

http://abbbc.com.au/

I have just finished week 1 and have completed 3 boot camp sessions before work which included boxing, weight training and running. We have also done a time trial around the Botanical Gardens in South Yarra and I am going to my own PT sessions (not apart of the challenge) this morning. 

This week I have had 2 rest days of no exercise and 1 day off the diet, I am already feeling more energised and active - its great.

A few things I have found difficult are:

1. Getting out of bed at 5:15am 3 mornings a week to get to training by 5:45

2. Craving sugar around 3pm each arvo because I'm tired, hungry or bored

3. Exercising in the cold (the cold air affects my sport induced asthma).

Ways to deal with these are:

1. You get used to the early mornings quite quickly actually, however going to bed at 9pm and reading/watching TV till 9:30 has helped me not feel too tired when I wake up. I'd be careful with watching TV tough as it stimulates the brain, making it harder to fall asleep. Staying away from caffeine in the afternoons helps too

2. I have strawberries or apple with organic peanut butter to try and push through the sweet cravings - sometimes have a Diet Coke (I am trying to limit these though). I am also making up a superfood drink for a little extra kick in the arvo - it doesn't look very nice, nor does it smell or taste great but if you mix it with a lot of water and some lemon it is drinkable http://www.passionprojects.com.au/product-page/superfood-powder-boxes/triple-green-superfood-powder/ (it does come in other flavours too)

3. I take my preventer about an hour before exercising and make sure I do a proper warm up to get my body used to the cold air.

Over the next few weeks I will be blogging about what we have been doing at training and how I am going.

Here are some great, easy meal ideas:

Pancakes made with almond meal instead of flour and rice milk instead. Add any fruit you wish and some cinnamon for flavour.

Tuna, celery, cucumber, corn, four bean mix (strained and washed), tuna and a pinch of salt.

Same as above with mushrooms, tomato, peas, cottage cheese, basil pesto and chia seeds.

Here are some of my motivational bikini bod pics for motivation...

The Corsairs

Check out The Corsairs!!!

They area bout to launch their EP and have just been featured on Broadsheet 

http://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/events/event/corsairs-2012-09-04?fb_action_ids=10151002449746991&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%2210151002449746991%22%3A220317984762267%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210151002449746991%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

A little bit about the band...

They are a four piece garage/surf/rock band that united in early 2011. They have performed all over Melbourne at various venues and events (St.Kilda Festival, The Espy, Revolver and Ding Dong loung just to name a few.

Their EP has taken them eight months to finalise, so come on down to their "I'm feeling Social" EP launch this Saturday, and see what its all about.

Event info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/395397270514094/

Check out their Balcony TV interview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omwREy4f5MA&feature=fvst

Want more... go to http://soundcloud.com/the_corsairs

Michael Kors Watches... Obsessed!

A few treasures I have my eyes on... I'll let you know which one makes the cut!

Michael Kors Mid Size Black Ceramic and Silver Color Stainless Steel Runway Chronograph Glitz Watch

http://www.michaelkors.com/p/Michael-Kors-Michael-Kors-Mid-Size-Black-Ceramic-and-Silver-Color-Stainless-Steel-Runway-Chronograph-Glitz-Watch-VIEW-ALL-WATCHES/prod18240010_cat7502_cat35701_/?index=3&cmCat=cat000000cat145cat35701cat7502&isEditorial=false

Michael Kors Silver Color Stainless Steel Camille Chronograph Watch

http://www.michaelkors.com/p/Michael-Kors-Michael-Kors-Silver-Color-Stainless-Steel-Camille-Chronograph-Watch-SILVER/prod18340002_cat31901_cat35701_/?index=1&cmCat=cat000000cat145cat35701cat31901&isEditorial=false

Michael Kors Silver Oversized Runway Watch

http://www.michaelkors.com/p/Michael-Kors-Michael-Kors-Silver-Oversized-Runway-Watch-SILVER/prod3670024_cat31901_cat35701_/?index=8&cmCat=cat000000cat145cat35701cat31901&isEditorial=false

Michael Kors Oversized Rose Golden Stainless Steel Runway Three-Hand Glitz Watch

http://www.michaelkors.com/p/Michael-Kors-Michael-Kors-Oversized-Rose-Golden-Stainless-Steel-Runway-Three-Hand-Glitz-Watch-ROSE-GOLDEN/prod18210010_cat35801_cat35701_/?index=2&cmCat=cat000000cat145cat35701cat35801&isEditorial=false

Marble Nail Art

Hello all you nail art lovers,

Hope you are just as excited as I am bout this amazing new discovery!

I came across this amazing technique while on Pintrest, it is fun and easy, however, make sure you have some time as it took me an hour and a half to do!

Here are the steps:

1. Paint your nails white, using a clear base coat to protect your nail

2. Get a bowl of room temperature water, 3 of your favourite coloured polishes, some cotton buds, nail polish remover and some tooth picks.

(Optional: using sticky tape, tape the skin around your nails to make the clean up process easier - I didn't bother doing this)

3. One by one, drip one drop from each colour into the water, do this twice or three times depending on the look you are after

4. Using a tooth pick, create a design in the water

5. Dip nail into the water onto the design

6. Blow on the water to dry the polish surrounding your finger, then use a tooth pick to collect the excess (it will come up off the water quite easily - like the skin on milk after its been heated)

7. After about 15 seconds, remove your finger from the water and clean up around the nail using a cotton bud and nail polish remover (which is surprisingly easy as the polish has been diluted in the water)

8. Repeat these steps for all nails

9. Once dry, paint a clear top coat over the design.

AMAZING!

For a video tutorial, please go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9A_9FH7e-A

This Months Fashion Faves

Zip It Jacket available at http://www.promiseshj.com.au/
Sportsgirl T-shirt - 2010
Camila and Marc Leggings (Green With Envy) - 2009

Silver Gelato Jeans available at http://www.promiseshj.com.au/
Willow Jacket - 2012 Pop Up Sale - GPO (Melbourne)
Singlets - H&M London

Willow Jacket - 2012 Pop Up Sale - GPO (Melbourne)
Singlets - H&M London
Topshop Leggings - London

Necklace from Greece (no brand)

SABA Leather Jacket - 2009
Nicholas Long Sleeved Top - Green With Envy
Tony Bianco Boots 

Blue Saphire Necklace - 2012 http://www.promiseshj.com.au/

Thomas Wylde Bag - http://thomaswylde.com/

MAY Appleton Dress - http://www.promiseshj.com.au/

House of Harlow Ring - http://www.houseofharlow1960.com/
Marble Nail Art - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9A_9FH7e-A

Juicy Couture Bracelet - http://www.juicycouture.com/
MAC Lipstick SNOB - http://www.maccosmetics.com.au/