Apologies and Yoga

Well... it's been a while, what can I say. I was swallowed up by the full time, fast paced life that is working in Advertising.

As much as I would love to write every day, I would be lucky to write every week... As per my previous post, me moments are very important and unfortunately very few and far between. So between working longer hours, ensuring I am getting enough me time in and while still trying to stay the social butterfly that I love to be, my blog has suffered neglect. I am on a mission now to try my best to still give it the attention it needs, as it is also brings me the solace I need to stay sane.

I have decided to take up yoga, once a week, as an hour of me time this will help with relaxation, flexibility and overall wellbeing.

Yoga has many benefits...

Health benefits;

Normalisation of muscle tone

Low risk of injury

Effort is minimised, helping with relaxation

Energising

Balanced activity of opposing muscle groups

Biochemical benefits;

Total cholesterol decreases

Triglycerides decrease

Total white blood cell count decreases

Vitamin C increases

Psychological benefits;

Mood improves and subjective well-being increases

Self acceptance increases

Social adjustment increases

Anxiety and Depression decreases

Concentration improves

Memory improves

Physiological benefits;

Pulse rate decreases

Respiratory rate decreases

Blood pressure decreases

Breath holding time increases

Posture improves

Endurance increases

Weight normalises

Sleep improves

Make Up Tips

Now everyone has a different routine, different products and a different style... It's all about doing what is best for you!

Here is my step by step for everyday make up.

1. You need to make sure you have a clean surface to work on, yes I am talking about your skin, but also your bench top. I find it so much easier to lay out my make up in the morning with nothing else in the way so I can see all my products, and I put them away as I go - which might seem a bit OCD but I find makes it very easy to see what my next step is/minimises cleaning up time.

     a. Lay out make up products

     b. cleanse your face with warm water and the cleanser of your choice - pat your face dry and moisturise.

2. It is important to use a primer based on what type of skin you have, and is also a good idea to buy one that has SPF in it. My skin gets oily at the end of the day and my make up tends to move so the lovely ladies at Mecca Cosmetica recommended the perfect primer for my skin. I use Hourglass Veil Primer.

    a. use a small blob (about a 10cent coin size, depending on how liquidy the primer is) and rub into your skin gently.

3. Using a foundation brush, evenly spread your foundation into your skin. Tip: My foundation comes in a pump pack, so I unscrew the top and run the brush along the inside tube in order to not squeeze out excess amounts and waste it. I use Stilla Illuminating Foundation.

4. Using a liquid concealer, cover up blemishes. I used to use a dry cream concealer but found it stuck to creases and bumps under my eyes which ended up making me look like a cake face rather than fresh. I use Ellis Faas concealer.

5. Setting your make up with a compact or loose powder is a good way to ensure it will stay put all day. I use a round Bronzing Brush with a blunt end to apply my powder. Tip: Don't brush it on like you would bronzer, actually push it into your face for a better, longer lasting result. I use a NARS Bronzing Brush, and a NARS compact powder.

6. The amount of bronzer used is different for every occasion and is also seasonal. In summer I use a small amount as when you sweat/get warm your make up melts and moves much more easily than in winter, a lot of people who tan their faces won't need bronzer in Summer and at night I tend to use more bronzer as I want a darker look. My secrete to bronzing is to bronze in the shape of the number 3 down each side of your face. So you start with your forehead, in a large half circle motion come down to your cheek bone, then back towards your temple and down to your jaw line. I don't bronze my nose, chin, or upper lip, this creates a highlight affect and helps define your cheek bones. I usually put a light layer of bronzer just under my jaw line as well to avoid any lines. I use NARS bronzer.

7. Blush is not for everyone, some people find that as they have coloured their cheek bones with bronzer they may not need blush. I use a light layer of NARS blush with a little bit of gold shimmer in it. 

8. Mascara - my favourite part! I lightly curl my lashes using an eyelash curler at the base of my lashes, then again in the middle and again at the end of them, this gives them a nice curve. I then apply 2 coats of a black volumizing mascara. Tip: Don't use waterproof, it is hard to get off and scrubbing it off can damage your lashes/pull them out, if you are going to use it, you should buy a gentle oil based eye make up remover.

9. (Optional step) Highlighting - I only do this at night, using a highlighting stick, highlight just under your brow bone, along your cheek bones and in the v of your top lip (also optional). I use a NARS cream highlighter.

10. Lastly eyeliner. I use a nude coloured eyeliner on the inside of my bottom lash line to help brighten up my eyes and give me a very fresh and awake look. For night time I use a white eyeliner, this really makes your eyes pop, especially if you go along your lash line with a very light layer of dark liner as well (grey, black or brown).

Big Tip: Remember ladies, less is more! A more natural look is much better than an over done look especially on a hot day if your make up moves slightly we dont' want streaky lines along our jaw lines or upper lip at the end of the day!

Enjoy xx

Valentines Day

Hello lovely readers,

While I don't feel Valentines day celebrations are a necessity, it is a great excuse to go out for a romantic meal or do something special with your partner.

One of my new goals in life is to live in the moment and enjoy all the happiness that comes your way. If that means celebrating Valentines day then so be it, it can't hurt after all.

I love low key, romantic dates and home made gifts and cards, so here are some of my Valentines day suggestions...

1. Go for a picnic in your local park. Get a nice big rug and a basket full of deli meats and cheeses and enjoy the summer sun just the two of you.

2. Moonlight Cinemas is showing the very romantic Breakfast at Tiffany's. Grab some ciders and a picnic basket full of goodies and enjoy nature, the summer night and a classic romantic film. Purchase tickets at: http://www.moonlight.com.au/ 

HOT TIP - Buy Gold Grass, you get a great little bean bag for the evening and have a nice big sectioned off area so you don't have to get there as early to save your spot.

3. Surprise your partner by booking a table at their favourite restaurant or by cooking up a storm form them before they get home from work.

4. I made these cute Dynamite Chocolates last year - 

For instructions go to: http://laurenconrad.com/blog/post/cupids-corner-darling-dynamite-diy-valentines-day-craft-gift-ideas-2012

5. Bake these cute cupcakes as a little after dinner treat - 

For instructions go to: http://laurenconrad.com/blog/post/sweet-tooth-valentine-s-day-heart-baked-inside-cupcakes-recipe

Enjoy xoxo

Me moments

Hello everyone,

So I know I said I would come back to you with results of the 12 week Ashy Bines Bikini Body Challenge, the reason I haven't yet is because after about 3-4 weeks I adopted the "I've lost 2kg and have had great fitness test results so I can eat these chips, it wont make a difference" mentality. Little did I know that the more carbs and sugar you eat, the more you crave it/give in and end up feeling guilty because you have spent so much money on a fitness program and diet and you are not following it.

I do think it is important to treat yourself on a weekly basis, it is all about self control and portion size, which is something that has taken me a while to learn!

I was a little disappointed as I had tried so hard at the start, it was starting to get me a little down, but then I realsied I had so much to be proud of. My percentage body fat had come down, my muscle reading had gone up, my weight had come down and my fitness test results had improved dramatically.

It took me a while to realise that it is way more important to concentrate on how you feel and how your clothes fit as apposed to the number on the scales, as so many different factors affect this number, how much water your body is retaining, the time of the month, how much you have eaten the day before etc. 

The bootcamp had really helped me work out what keeps me motivated, and keeping in mind how great you feel when you achieve results always helps too.

This post is all about motivation, working out what works for you and the importance of having a "me moment" every now and then.

A "me moment" can be whatever you want it to be, for me, it is sitting in bed watching some girlie TV like Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl with a bag of lightly salted, organic popcorn and painting my nails on a Friday night. Then getting up the next morning and doing something active so I don't feel too bad about the popcorn (which is actually considered a healthy afternoon snack if you have a small handful or two and it is high in fibre).

Doing exercise has never been something that I enjoy a whole lot, unless its going for a walk with a girl friend or a gym class with some buddies to motivate me - its pretty safe to say I will rarely go if I am alone. It was the bootcamp that made me realise there are so many different sports you can do, you just need to find one that you enjoy. I found I love boxing and jogging, I love doing different things at each session, I hate repetition (in food and exercise)- it bores me! I read somewhere that "anyone who says exercise is not fun, hasn't found the right kind"

I have made it my mission to try a few different sports this year, I want to take up cycling, I want to go Horse Ridding (I know this is not a high cardio sport, but it is still a sport and it is still something that I have not done since I was a child so counts as something different), I want to do more Reformer Pilates* and want to take up boxing classes (I purchased my own boxing gloves for bootcamp and want to make sure I continue to use them). 

*Reformer Pilates is great for beginners, a great studio is KX Pilates - http://www.kxpilates.com.au/

Another great motivator is exercise gear, if you love exercising and are really keen to stay on track, I find it is a great motivator to go out and buy new gear. I recently had to replace my runners as they were way past their use by date and then purchased 2 new tops to exercise in. Bye bye old oversized t-shirt, hello new Lulu Lemon singlets! Obviously this motivator is reliant on what bills I need to pay this month, but its always great to have a goal in mind for the future if buying new clothes is not feasible this month. http://www.lululemon.com.au/

My amazing Naturopath said to me, if you're going to have a treat, make sure you enjoy it, it is not healthy to dwell/feel negative about something you have eaten. 

Eat 80% for the body and 20% for the soul!

My fave Christmas gifts

I know I have been slack on the blog front, I apologise - the festive seasons got the better of me!

One of my favourite Christmas gifts was actually one from myself to my mum. The T2 ice tea jug. It can be used to brew hot or cold teas using loose leaf or tea bags. I gave her the 2L jug and just keep topping it up as we go through it.

T2 have such an amazing range of flavours, my favourite to serve as ice tea is the Strawberry and Cream - it is sweet but light and you can change the intensity of the flavour by using less or more tea. To sweeten mine up a little, I added the Turkish Apple tea (which looks like brown sugar), it is delicious.

Another fun flavour of tea from T2 is the Vanilla Mint - it is very refreshing and great served ice cold.

For more info, visit: http://t2tea.com/ or http://blog.t2tea.com/how-to-brew-ice-tea/

Another great gift I gave was some P.J shorts from Peter Alexander. The best part was, when I was buying them, Peter himself came into the store, had pictures with people, handed out free waters and actually served people at the register!

How cute are these shorts, that come in a little felt cup cake?!

For more info please visit: http://www.peteralexander.com.au/tem/PA_petersworld.tem

Now its time to be a little selfish and gush about my absolute favourite gift - I love my new Thierry Lasry Lively sunnies

http://www.thierrylasry.com/

These can be purchased at Green with Envy http://www.greenwithenvy.com.au/ or visit http://www.thierrylasry.com/stockists.php?country=australia for more stockist.

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/