I'm Vlogging...

Hey guys, I am sure some of you are aware but maybe not - that I also have a youtube channel. I created it many moons ago and then pretty much stopped uploading for 18months. 

But, I am back! 

I am now uploading vlog style videos where It is more day in the life style with a hint of everything I enjoy - Beauty, Fitness and Food! 

I wanted to share with you quickly my vlog playlist - it also includes some travel vlogs as well! 

I will be uploading another two videos shortly and hope to keep the content coming. 

I would love if you checked them out - gave them a thumbs up and even gave me some feedback! 

Hope you enjoy. 

Shan x.  

March Health and Wellness Awareness

Hey All,
 

I wanted to apologise for the delay in getting my March Health & Wellness favourites out to you. We have had a crazy few days here in QLD with cyclone Debbie hanging around.

As I did in February, I want to share with you each month my new discoveries and love in the world of health and wellness. After all – knowledge is king. If you missed my Feb post, click here to check it out.

Now, on to this month’s favourite finds.

1. The Telomere Effect – This book discusses the aging process and how our individual lifestyle and psychological habits can slow disease and impove life. It is a really interesting concept and was co-authored by a Nobel Prize winner in the field of Telomerase. I definitely felt this was a very exciting book and concept, if anything it will at lease help us make better life choices which will hopefully lead to healthier and happier lives. (I am actually yet to finish the entire book)

2. Kirsty Wirth – Kirsty has a really interesting story of how she cured her sons autism through gut health. I first came across her via the Melissa Ambrosini Show. She has a wealth of knowledge of all things wellness, with a major focus on gut health. Something I am also very passionate about. You can check out her website and blog for all sorts of info (kulturedwellness.com). Also if you just do a quick google or podcast search of her name, the amount of information which comes up is incredible.

I hope you have been enjoying these monthly posts, and as always – if you have made any amazing discoveries this month, please share them with me in the comments. I am always looking for new and amazing avenues to help grow and expand my knowledge.

Shan x.

5 Tips For Better Looking Skin

In the coming weeks I will be sharing with you my full Adult Acne Story. First though, I thought I would share with you 5 things which I changed or incorporated to help improve my overall skin health.

There are loads of reasons as to why we should look after our skin, it is after all our biggest organ & it does a mighty good job of keeping all of our bits in where they should be. But also good skin helps to boost self-confidence and in turn this makes us happier. Maintaining healthy skin overall (as superficial as it sounds) improves the way we think and feel about ourselves.

5 Tips For Healthier Looking Skin;

1.Face Mapping

I think this is a bit of a forgotten art form. A lot of people I mention it too respond with ‘What is that’, followed by a bit of an ‘a-hah’ moment. Face Mapping is an ancient Chinese form of skin analysis. It is your bodies’ way of letting you know and help you understand the reasoning behind the spots and congestion. I have found by knowing what is going on and having a better understanding behind my skin issues, I can then treat it better and I also feel less down on myself about it.

Image Source: The Snow Fairy – also check out the blog for more detail on face mapping here.

http://www.thesnowfairy.com/acne-face-map-what-acne-revealing-about-your-health/


2. Invest in good Skin Care

I am not saying go and spend a fortune on skin care, as there are definitely some incredible products which are on the cheaper end. But listen to your body, if you are using a cheaper cleanser and your face feels incredibly clean – however you are still battling breakouts and oil problems. That cleanser probably isn’t for you – it’s actually over cleansing and stripping your skin of its natural necessary oils.  Keep it Simple with Skin Care, but not simple as in cleanser and moisturiser. Simple in the sense as focus on one or two skin care ranges. You will find brands create products which work well together and you will get more benefit when using them in conjunction with each other. For me, I have found the Skinstitut range has worked wonders with my skin and the large range of products helps me target specific problems and issues.

3. Monitor your Dairy

Again this can also go back to face mapping point, but dairy products, including milk & cheese contain growth hormones and can have an inflammatory affect which actually clog your pores. If you can’t give up the cheese like me, definitely try cutting back when it comes to that time of the month. I personally limit my cheese intake and never drink milk. I notice a massive difference in my skin as soon as I reduce my intake.

4. Look after your Gut

Having an excess amount of bad gut bacteria can lead to a number of problems, one of them being acne. I take a number of tablets every morning and one of them is a probiotic. I find this helps my body and in particular my gut function better in so many ways. I have found two which I particularly like, Polybac8  & Bio Ceuticals.

5. Make the most of masking

Be sure to not overdo it, I see a lot of people using masks daily or every second day as they are not happy with how their skin is looking. I know we all can love the feeling of a freshly exfoliated face, but over exfoliating can also get rid of the healthy skin cells which act as a natural barrier. This could also lead to hypersensitivity and excess oil to compensate. The same goes for clay masks, these are only designed to be used 1-2 times a week. Using them any more often can have as adverse effect and the benefits won’t be as noticeable.


BONUS TIP: Drink more water… now this wouldn’t of been a skin post without mentioning drinking more water. I keep a large bottle on my desk at work. It’s also easier to keep this on you on weekends rather than buying water etc.

Check out:

https://madebyfressko.com/au/

https://www.thebigbottleco.com/

February Health and Wellness Awareness

So I wanted to start a new series 'Health and Wellness Awareness' within my blog for two reasons;

1. It will keep me accountable – I will have no excuse but to keep exploring and discovering new things
2. I love to share these things I find with people

I am always on a journey with health and wellness; I love learning and discovering new books, documentaries and things along those lines. I want to be able to share with you each month a few of my new favourites which I have come across.

Headspace - This is such a nifty little app for those interested and wanting to learn how to meditate. All you need is 10 minutes, it is best to pick a time you can stick to every day and the app will do the rest for you. Personally I really enjoy the voice of Andy and the laid back approach. It really helped me to stop over thinking it and to just sit back and do… It really is meditation made simple.

Melissa Ambrosini Show - These are podcasts by the author of ‘Mastering your Mean Girl’. Melissa is a bit of a ‘self-help guru’ with a series of Health, Wealth and Love interview style podcasts. I love the variety and listening to other peoples thoughts and ideals. These interviews feel really natural and genuine with content that helps spark your own thoughts. I enjoy listening to this whilst I do mindless tasks like cleaning the house; I find the content very uplifting.

 

I hope you enjoyed this post, please let me know if you have discovered any new health and wellness books, podcasts or apps… anything really that helps you grow and challenge yourself. I would love to hear about it.

Shan x.

Educate - For Your Health's Sake

Following on from my ‘Making a Change’ blog post, I thought I would share with you some of my favourite ‘health/wellness documentaries
’. I am slightly obsessed with these videos and could spend days, maybe weeks even caught up and researching the issues they bring up.

For me and many others, education is power – and in a day where everyone seems to be looking at quick fixes and fad diets – I feel a lot of people need to get back to basics and re-educate themselves on how to eat and what is truly healthy.

This is definitely a topic I am quite passionate about and I am seeing more issues with how today’s society approaches health and wellness.

To help bridge the education gap, I thought I would share with you all my TOP 5 health & wellness documentaries. Each of these documentaries left me feeling inspired, asking questions and wanting more. 

5. Vegucated 

This isn't so much about health and nutrition as a whole but solely focused on veganism. It follows the journey and discovery of 3 Americans from eating a 'normal' diet and being very closed off to the option of veganism. I liked that this was pushing the plant based agenda, demonstrating that we can eat and achieve the same results without including food products. Warning this documentary is graphic at times.

Watch the whole documentary here

4. Fed Up

One of the older documentaries, it has lots of solid great information, however it is not as punchy or as engaging as many of the others. I think this is possibly due to it being produced in 2002.

Watch the whole documentary here

3. Food Inc.

One of the first of these types of documentaries I watched which really cemented what I thought and helped open my eyes even further. I guess this fuelled my desire to know more, learn more and make better smarter decisions. - 'Warning' - this may turn you vegan - not that that would be a bad thing! 

Click here to watch the trailer for Food Inc.

or 

Watch the full documentary here

2. Hungry for Change

It was tough to pick between this and my #1. This is a big eye opener, which leaves you feeling empowered, inspired and helps you regain your focus.

Click here to watch the trailer for Hungry for Change

1. That sugar Film

This is easily my favourite health documentary EVER. I don't feel I learnt anything massive from it as I have seen others and done so much research, but the way this video was put together was really punchy. It really left its mark, everyone I refer this video too absolutely loves it as well.

Click here to watch the trailer for That Sugar Film

I know there are many more, but these are just my personal top 5. Do you have any health and wellness documentaries that you love? I am always looking to expand my knowledge and widen my views. Make sure you leave a comment. 

S x. 

Making A Change

One of my favourite quotes is 'If we know what we know, why do we do what we do' - I first heard this whilst listening to Dr Libby give one of her amazing and inspirational workshops. This quote resinated with me a lot.

I have read a lot of books, done a lot of research and learnt a lot during my very active teens - I preach so much good advice, yet I can be the worst to follow this good advice. So given I have all this knowledge, why is it I don't follow through? For me it is time.

To try and get a hold of my health and wellbeing again, I have set myself a few short term goals. I also have been looking into prepackaged meal options.

I have set 5 goals and I will reassess in 30 days.

1. Lemon in 500ml of water every morning when I first wake up. 
2. Lunch time walks around the river. 
3. Attend yoga 2-3 times a week (in addition to pilates). 
4. Eat healthy, wholesome food.
5. Eat vegetarian, gluten free again. 

As I mentioned, I have been looking into prepackaged meal options to help with my goals and my time issue. I recently offered the chance to try out Wholesomeness Foods, I was very excited as this was the kick start I was looking for. 

There was a decent amount of meals available on the website, including fresh options, freezable winter meals and juices. I picked 5 meals and arranged to pick them up from the grange store. Delivery is only $14 and in the future I would opt for that option instead. 

The meals I chose; each were $9.95.

1. Lemongrass Chicken with Coconut Cauliflower Rice

2. Roast Mushroom with Bazil Nut Pesto, Vegetable Quinoa Pilaf

3. Frittata with Potato, Red Capsicum and Spinach 

4. Pumpkin Cashew Curry with Cauliflower Rice

5. Mexican Black Beans with Herbed Polenta 

Overall I enjoyed the convenience of packaged meals but I can be quite a picky eater so I'm not sure if it really is for me. Wholesomeness do offer a good variety of vegan, gluten free & dairy free options which I really appreciated. Also all meals are broken down into macros which is very handy.

To find out more about Wholesomeness, visit their website, wholesomeness.com.au or visit the cafe at 8 Days Road, The Grange - Brisbane. 

Talk Soon, S x. 

** Disclaimer; This post is not sponsored, however these meals were offered free of charge.

DIY: Mermaid Ombre Mason Jars

Hey Lovelies,

A few weeks ago I posted a photo on my instagram of a DIY project which I was working on. I have since had quite a lot of interest (** cough ** xxbrittersblog **cough**) in how I made them.

They really were very simple, cheap & didn't take that long to make at all. (winning)

What you will need:

Mason Jars
Acrylic Paint
Glitter
Sponge (I got mine in the car wash section of Kmart for $1.50)
Craft Glue (you want one that will dry clear)

What to do:

1. Spread out an old sheet or newspaper to protect the area you are working on
2. Cut up large sponge into 8 or so pieces
3. Mix paints to make desired colours
4. Sponge paint onto mason jars

Tip 1: If you want a 'shiny finish' - similar to the plain pink jar - sponge inside the jar rather than the outside.

Tip 2: If you want an ombre affect - choose 3 colour which you want to make the ombre - I chose Blue, Purple & light pink - using a fresh sponge for each and gently overlapping each colour - go from the darkest to lightest shade.

5. Wait until paint has dried
6. Using a fresh sponge apply craft glue to desired areas - working in sections is easiest.
7. Pour glitter into a small bowl and sprinkle over glue. (I found pouring was easier & then pouring the fall out off the plate back into the bowl to reuse on the next section)

Tip 3: I mixed glitter colours together to help give a more mermaid/ombre affect.

And thats it - your done, you now have these cute mermaid inspired mason jars.

I use them as candle holders and also to store my make up brushes - but you can really use them for anything!

I have also made a quick video to help demonstrate how I made them.. BUT blogger won't allow me to upload it directly - If you want me to make a full video and upload it to my youtube channel please let me know & I would be happy to do so.

Happy DIY!

Talk Soon, S x.

Kombucha: Magic or Funky?

Have you heard about Kombucha? Pronouced: kom- BOO-cha

I started drinking Kombucha around 2 years ago & was really impressed with the results. 

The drink actually comes from the ancient Chinese, originally being called the "Immortal Health Elixir" ..And we know how much I love a good Elixir! It has actually been around for more than 2000 years, but only of late does it seem to becoming more common and easily accessible.

Caramel Smoothie with a BOOST

I will admit it, its no secret - I am a massive sweet tooth... & this can make keeping healthy a little difficult.

I have posted a few photos on instagram of my caramel coffee smoothie and received a bit of interest, so I thought it was about time I brought back Foodie Friday.

Curiosity Gets Me Every Time ...

If any of you are like me & suffer from a slight shopping addiction then this may have caught your eye as well...

Around a year ago I became aware of the world of subscription services & yes it sucked me right in. Surprise gifts at your door every month!! Seriously just take my money!

20 Facts About Me

Happy Monday! Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. 

I was tagged by Kelly (IG: makeupgeek22) in the 20 facts about me tag.

I have been meaning to do this post for a while now but kinda thought my 20 facts weren't that interesting #nanalife #granniesunite 

Anyway here we go..

5 Mother's Day Gifts under $80

With Mother’s day quickly approaching I thought I would put together a quick gift guide for any of you who may have been stuck with what to buy.

While compiling this list I have aimed to keep it more on the ‘budget’ side with a range of different gifts all under $80.

So let’s get straight into it.

1. Bella Box Limited Edition Mother’s Day Box - $30/$50

If you’re a little stuck on what to get Mum or if she is just a little hard to buy for, then the gift boxes are a perfect present. They range from $30 - $50 with up to $200 worth of goodies in the box. There are a few different editions; young & fun, the socialite & a standard mother’s day edition. With so many options there will be one to suit everyone.

Click here to order yours now.

2.     Heavenly Hands Duo - $75

We all know our Mums work overtime and deserve the most luxurious items of life. Well this hand wash & cream due is the perfect touch of luxury to any bathroom or morning routine. The duo will leave the hands feeling super silky and lightly scented whilst also added that much needed moisture – especially in these cooler winter months.

Purchase in store at Mecca Cosmetica or click here to purchase online.

.   

3. Flow Book for Paper Lovers 2 - $40 aud inc shipping

I recently came across these books & I will be honest, I did slightly loose my marbles at how awesome they were – yes that is my inner geek showing through. The book contains 300 pages of amazing paper goodness. I am talking; mini-envelopes, posters, a letter garland, stationery, craft paper, colouring pages, gift wrapping, labels, a flip-up house, stickers, paper dolls, gift bags and more.. seriously the book is endless!

To purchase click here!




4.    Glasshouse BIRDS OF A FEATHERPINK SORBET Candle - $42.95

There is nothing better than a new candle & this beautiful delight will not disappoint. With a stunning blend of Grapefruit, Lemon & Watermelon, it will definitely get those senses tingling. Not to mention the seriously amazing packing but also 5% of recommended retail price from this candle will go to The McGrath Foundation.

You can purchase Glasshouse candles from Peter Alexander, David Jones, Adorne or directly from their website.

www.glasshousefragrances.com

5.    A sweet Kikki K card with beautiful bloom (as seeds) - $10

Now this is easily my cutest gift idea and for those on a budget, & most definitely the gift that keeps on giving. Kikki K have the most adorable cards, so pick up your favourite & give it to mum with a packet of seeds containing her favourite flowers. She will be able to plant them in the garden and have a constant reminder of the wonderful daughter or son that you are.

I really hope you have enjoyed these gift ideas. If you already have your gift organised, please leave a comment below and let me know what bought! 

Talk Soon, S x. 

Be Wild Be Free

Hello loves,

I recently watched the movie WILD with Reece Witherspoon & it got me thinking, if you were driven to the edge - what extreme would you go to set yourself free. And I am talking to the complete and ultimate edge - its actually a scary thought.

In the movie she pushes her boundaries and battles her demons while completing the unthinkable.

Each and everyone of us deals with problems in our own weird & wonderful ways.. Sometimes you just have to focus on you and do what you need to do to improve your life.

As they say the quieter you become the more you hear. This movie really brought this into saying into perspective.

Have any of you guys seen it? What did you think of the movie?

Talk Soon, S x.

Let It Be

I recently watched a video by one of my all time favourite YouTuber's Meghan Rienks, regarding her depression story. Depression & Anxiety is something I do not take lightly. I was genuinely touched by her story and could relate on a very personal level. 

So I guess this week’s words of wisdom kind of flow on from my previous post about being a ‘Warrior vs Worrier’. 

– Let it Be –

'It’s a saying I have said over to myself an uncountable number of times. Well what I generally say is ‘let it be & what will be, will be!

I am a big believer & advocate for the law of attraction, so what you put out you will receive – karma if you will. I believe the universe is very powerful & everything has a place & purpose in the world – sometimes we just can’t see or make sense of it just yet. When I find things are spiralling out of control & I just can’t slow it down (control freak I know) I just repeat these words over & over and find a calm sensation takes effect. It’s like a quiet reminder that there is something bigger than me and everything will be ok.

This may come across a little drastic to some but I know there are a lot of people out there that struggle with anxiety and other issues. I just wanted to share something which has helped me through some very tough times.

Do you have a person mantra? I would love to hear what you do to help calm the nerves and jitters in the comments below. 

Talk Soon, S x

Metabolism Booster Elixir

Happy Easter to you all!

Now I know this may be very loosely 'foodie' but I wanted to share with you all one of my favourite morning rituals. Especially considering the cooler months are upon us here in Australia. What I am about to share with you will not only kick start your metabolism each morning but will also help to boost your immune system. Double Whammy! WoOoo!

Now your probably thinking hurry up.. Spill the beans already!

Presenting to you my morning elixir! (I just love
that word!)

Ingredients:

Apple Cider Vinegar (I use one containing 'the mother')
Fresh Lemon
Ginger Juice
Cayenne Pepper
Raw Honey

Instructions:

Mix ingredients in a glass or small jar and add a small amount of warm water. 

Drink before eating in the morning.

Handy Tip:

If you don’t have a juicer that will properly juice ginger or small roots, then slice a large knuckle of ginger and boil it on the stove with approx. 1 cup water. Allow to boil until the water is mostly ginger, and then store it in a jar in the fridge.

By drinking this little potion first thing in the morning your body will be able to absorb the nutrients quickly. This drink is filled with so much goodness and contains so many health benefits. Along with assisting the digestive & immune systems, I find this also helps my skin and also gives me a little spring in my step! 

When I feel good inside, I just feel like everything else goes more smoothly. This drink is just one of my many ways which I help keep my body happy from the inside out! 

Do you have any morning rituals which help set you up for a wonderful day?

Talk Soon, S x. 

Warrior Vs Worrier

I recently saw this quote and thought how appropriate! I can definitely be a 'what if' worrier. I like to be prepared. Just one of my.. Lets call them quirks :) So this quote just really made me take a step back and just think.

To grow as people we need to understand that our personal battles are first won in the mind. I am a big believer in what you put out you will receive. Good things wont happen if you don't believe they will. As people we need to take control, build strength and confidence in our lives so that we can attack each obstacle, solve each problem that we face.

Warriors know what they want & will not quit until they get it.

How will you engage your inner warrior?

Talk soon, S x.

Exciting News

Hello my beautiful readers ❤

I have some very exciting news to share with you!

From next week I will be adding some special posts to my blog...

These posts will be in addition to my makeup, health & lifestyle posts.

So without further ado, I would like to share with you -

Wednesdays Wisdom & Foodie Friday

These posts will hopefully enlighten & inspire.

If you have any topics you would like me to discuss please leave a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts on my new themed days. !

Talk soon, S x.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Did you know that in 2014, it is estimates that 15,270 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. I have committed to raising $1000 for Breast Cancer Awareness with the Mater Hospital’s Bust a Move Fundraiser. I would really appreciate if you could help me support this cause & donate!! xx 

https://secure.artezpacific.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=842593&langPref=en-CA

First Time Blogger

Hello to all my BEAUTIFUL new friends!

I am currently a YouTuber and branching out into the land of Blogging!

I thought I would firstly update you a little and share with you my YouTube Channel.

I started my Youtube journey in April last year (2014) and have been enjoying every minute of it.

I am hoping by blogging I will be able to expand and focus on some smaller projects, like single product reviews.

I hope you enjoy what is to come, please remember to follow my blog and subscribe to my YouTube Channel. I really do appreciate your support.

Much Love, S.

My YouTube Channel