Erica Brooke.//.Beauty Products

Erica Brooke, she has to be one of my favourite natural skincare experts right this moment. All of her skincare is made 100% natural. Forget chemical, parabens , GMO’s, harsh fragrances and anything else that can in one way or another damage the largest organ of our body – our skin!

Ericas’ skincare range started way back in 2006 and has grown ever since. So I ask you to please check out her range (I cannot speak highly enough of it!) and join Us alongside her on the journey to rid the world of toxic chemicals, animal testing as well as any misconceptions about ingredients.

Having just recently come across her deodorant creme in wildflowers, its amazing and 100% natural. Having had good reviews gives a positive outlook on a product however reading the ingredients list makes it much more worthwhile.

Check out Erica Brooke’s Skincare range here:

https://www.ericabrooke.com.au/pages/about-us

#skincare      #health       #bestbodyforward       #glowingskin

 

Birthday Surprise

While everyone else spends their Sunday lazing around or getting organised for the new week, We got other things we can do with our such valuable time, such as celebrating our gorgeous friends birthday!

Our idea of a gift turned into a clue filled trip away lasting a mere 12 hours filled with incredible memories and so much fun!!!

How it all went down:

We were invited to her birthday celebrations in the city recently and there she got her very first clue … instead of a present as the surprise was yet to come.

CLUE#1

October 15th was your birthday,
Hip Hip and Hooray!
We have a surprise for you,
This is all we can say.
Please pick a day – an entire Saturday will suit best.
So Us three can head North, South, East and West!

We (Andrew and I)  both knew she is similar to Us as she loves beauty as much as I do + the outdoors just like Andrew does, so we came up with organizing a trip filled with clues which she would need to solve in order to find out what the surprise was. The entire trip took place in Healesville, Victoria – Australia.

Yesterday our friend Katherine came to my house at 8 am before we headed to my boyfriend’s place to pick him up and have Us all drive to our first destination. Katherine got blindfolded as we knew she used to live along the way, plus it would have been a bit ‘too boring’ without a blindfold.

Clue #2

Today is the day of the surprise to come true,
We hope you are ready to figure out your next clue.
It comes with a selection of a wide range of foods,
Which without a doubt tickle everyone’s individual mood.
With locations in yet only two states,
But a great place to catch up with your mates.

The answer to this clue was Breakfast at the well known Beechworth Bakery in Healesville, this surprise was of course well received too, as she had only ever been there once before. Don’t get me talking on the food, it is absolutely delicious.

After breakfast it was time for the next clue 🙂

Clue #3

Now it is off to a location very nice,
Yes, it is another part of this great surprise.
Your wallet, phone and keys you won’t need, but a good mindset indeed.
It is time to unwind and leave the daily chores behind.
Enjoy this special moment to refresh and re-energize.

Her grin when we arrived was priceless. It was a 1 hour Aroma Therapy massage, included with hot stones and the best masseuses available of course at no other location than Piaf Day Spa. She absolutely LOVED it. She was so super relaxed and glowing after her treatment! By then the next clue was already on it’s way:

Clue #4

But wait there is more – believe it or not,
Few places we can go, while owners await,
Our verdict very fast – before it ‘s too late,
Too many to taste  – “Oh my … what will be?  “,
Too dry, too sweet before you pick.
A glass or two of course changed to a bottle,
But please make sure you do not waddle.
Yes, here we are – let it begin.
 ‘Prost’ and ‘Cheers’ is your next hint.

This clue allowed plenty of time and variation, as the hint suggests it included the travel to almost every single winery in the area (LITERALLY!), where we tasted some wines and picked a few favorites 😉

Some of those wineries included, are Boat O’Craigo, a small Australian distillery at Four Pillars before we moved on to another magical place which you might be able to figure out through reading this next clue below.

Clue #5

This place has locations across Australia
and will take Us away on a journey so far.
Young children everywhere will like this one too,
with offerings and tastings that brighten your mood.
From light to dark and sweet to sour
while others rush here every single hour!
It comes with passion and indulgence … let’s not forget creativity
The word has nine letters and tastes super sweet.

After our trip to the Chocolatier at Healesville off we were for some more wine tastings 🙂

Yarrawood Estate, Balgownie Estate Vinyard Resort & Spa, Fergusson Winery and Restaurant , De Bortoli which allowed some space for a mini cheese factory allowing Us to taste some of their cheese, we then  Sutherland Estate

We then continued on to visit Shantell Vinyard right next door… then it was off to the last two wineries, Dixons Creek Winery (Graeme Miller Wines) and last but not least Mandala Wines

We had the most incredible time, chatting to the winemakers and vinyard owners and getting a whole heap of knowledge from them and how they operate in this so diverse yet competitive industry.

By now we were all a bit tired and wanted some time to simply relax, so off it was to Maroondah Reservoir, before the last surprise was announced:

Dinner at Yarra Valley Harvest.

It was amazing, the entire trip was so much fun and we definitely created the best and most amazing memories yet, in addition we set the stakes quite high too  😉

 

For anyone wanting to know some details:

The riddle was written by myself and has copyright restrictions!

The trip was planned by both my amazing partner Andrew (applause for him please) and myself

Biggest thanks to Andrew for this amazing day!

AK. xx

Eco Tan

One healthy alternative.

For those, who like me absolutely love the sun, the ocean and the outdoors please keep on reading.

Having glowing skin has always been somewhat important to me, for my skin to be healthy and have a nice tan also, however we all know how dangerous the sunrays can be … so it is definitely without question that we wear sunscreen (my favorite is Nivea Sunscreen Lotion 50+)

Having said that I love a nice tan, spray tans are easy but can be quite pricey, make you look orange but after some research i found that spray tan mist can actually damage DNA through breathing it in. Now, if you can hold your breath for a good 15 minutes go ahead. If you think you can head to a sun lounge / sun beds you are crazy! More so if you throw yourself into the sun without any sun protection to achieve a tan.

For those who now still care enough to keep reading, thank you – much appreciated. I have found an alternative and am a regular buyer of this product as well as the range overall.

The range is called Ecotan by Founder Sonya Driver.She is such a strong hearted, inspirational + gorgeous woman.

The item in question is Ecotan Winterskin Gradual Tanning Lotion, I know we have almost summer but this product works best with my skin, so Ssshhh.

In 2010 Eco Tan made Australian history in being the FIRST tan to use organic ingredients, certified by the organic food chain.

How is that for an effort?

Think twice when it comes to achieving a great tan.

Happy Weekend!

A. xx

#themovement

Good morning y’all,

Yes, it is currently 6AM here on the East Coast & yes I am up quite early with a nice cup of hot lemon to get me going for the day, oh and yes it is Sunday but to me it is simply like any other day of the week just a little more casual + relaxed.

Towards the end of 2014, I joined #themovement. Kayla’s Army… is a group of people, yes both nationally and global simply working out three days a week with 30minute sessions. The aim is to transform yourself to a leaner, more toned, healthy self. “The Movement” has been developed by the incredible Kayla Itsines, who herself has studied Fitness and soon realised while working as a PT instructor that most of the workouts were quite ‘flat’ to put it nicely. The workouts were not challenging enough so she developed BBG (Bikini Body Guide 1.0), it is the very first guide out of the lot that are available on her site.

#joinup  #fitness  #workout  #bestbodyforward

I myself had finished Guide 1.0 but took a somewhat bigger break over the festive season and Christmas so here I am again starting with that Week 1 BBG 1.0. It does work, let me clarify that. The Guide comes in the form on an e-Book, the duration of the workout sessions are divided well over the 7day week and to be quite honest it is the best book I have come across. It allows your body to adjust and transform through a variety of exercises over the duration of a twelve week period while of course also eating healthy.

When I talk to someone about eating healthy + having a healthy lifestyle, I mean the obvious no junk foods or microwavable meals and yes you guessed it, no sugar! While yet so many foods are hugely processed and otherwise would not exist, I follow a Paleo … dare do I say it … diet. Now let me make it clear that a Paleo Diet is nothing more than eating the things we have been for more than thousands of years of evolution. Go back so many years, there was no Chips, there was no bread, there was no dairy in terms of prepackaged cheeses at the supermarket or Up & Go Breakfast drinks.

The Paleo Diet helps you to eliminate those foods, that through the research and food studies which have been done, otherwise never ever did exist. Thousands of years ago, us humans lived primarily a healthy life by eating a lot of vegetables, seeds, fruits, nuts + healthy fats. These days we have millions of options of what to eat on a daily basis it is up to you to make the right choices. The Cookbook and amazing recipes for the Paleo lovers is available here.

While I do follow a healthy and active lifestyle I DO NOT diet despite the name ‘Paleo Diet’. I eat those food products that have been available to us from thousands of years ago.

While reading this, I hope you get motivated to sign up to the Bikini Body Guides and start to learn about yourself, your goals, your dreams, as well as your limitations (these can be well and truly overcome). You will transform yourself to that healthy individual you have always wanted to be.

#stayactive  #workout  #believe   #results  #paleodiet

Trust me when I say you will be craving those daily workouts.

Happy Sunday to you all,

A. x

A new addition to your vocabulary: “Oil Pulling”

Right… I can see all theses ???  hovering over your heads. What is it? How does it work? What does it have to do with? Why on earth have I never heard of this before?

Well.. oil pulling refers to using unrefined, cold pressed Coconut Oil (yes, the one you can purchase from the Supermarket) in your Oral Hygiene. Fancy all the terminology but I am not a dentist, but I do like to say that I am quite impressed by this new way of incorporating Coconut Oil into my health, even though there is so many other different benefits for it already, I am talking hair, skin, you name it.

So, by doing the ‘Oil pulling’ experience you brush your teeth (of course a no brainer!) in the morning + you guessed it at night time too, then get one teaspoon of coconut oil out of the jar & swish it around in your mouth for fifteen to twenty minutes after brushing your pearly whites or until the oil turns thin and a milky white, flush down the sink afterwards.

Not only does the oil protect your teeth, it also whitens and keeps your breath fresh and mouth healthy and clean, according to the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. Of course it is not the best of ideas to use oil pulling to treat tooth decay but rather use it as a mouth rinse for prevention. Tada!

I have incorporated this routine and so far am going to see how I go of course there are many benefits to using Coconut Oil already so it is definitely looking positive promising.

Why don’t you try it? Tonight? Or how about in the morning? Everyone loves benefits so you can’t go wrong. To the Guys and Men out there… take note: a new beauty regime for everyone…and it’s great for couples too 😉 who doesn’t like sitting in bed or on the couch with their significant other swishing coconut oil around in their mouth at night before bed.

#verysexy #healthbenefits #coconutoil

Happy Sunday to you all!

A. x

A trip to the green fields…

A surprise trip to the green fields and the nice relaxed scenery at Sherwood Park Orchards just before the Toonimbuk Road turn off, way past the many Estates within the Victoria’s south eastern suburbs…this of course is for those living in Australia, wanting to visit or those living local.

So many beautiful Country products from twenty different ranges of chutney to my pickled onions of which there is a particular memory that goes with this grocery item of course it is a different story altogether. They also stocked many varieties of fruit and amazingly we found non- alcoholic wines, again in many different forms.

Leaving the shop along the Hwy with my Man, one punnet of strawberries and non alcoholic Sparkling Grape Juice in hand we made our way back home. The next idea just as we pulled in the driveway… A Strawberry Smoothie, suggested of course by my Partner…who would’ve thought haha

It was beautiful – you basically just add milk to the strawberries.

Maybe not quite but the recipe doesn’t involve all too much just a mixer to cut up the strawberries then some full cream milk and a good stir, you can add some strawberry topping if you like to make it a bit sweeter if you wish.

It was a beautiful relaxing day that would suit you once in a while too.

Stay happy

A. x