Organic obsession

the | com·pli·ant | cli·ché by Creature Comforts

I’ve always been a little skeptical about the whole organic thing.  Lately, my organic-mad flatmates have got me wondering whether I should take the organic pathway to health and happiness. If its got organic on the label, my flatmates are buying it: bread, mayo, fertilizer, butter, fruit, veggies, hell, even seedlings for the veggie patch!

Can your food really be completely chemical free?  In any case, the pesticides and other chemicals used in agriculture / farming are considered safe for human consumption.  However, I’m making an effort to not buy food with any kind of chemical in the ingredients, no matter how harmless they’re meant to be.  Why not take the same stance with fruit, veggies, meat and dairy?

So I did a little investigative research into the subject.  If I’m going to be paying more for organic, I want to know that it’s worth it and that I’m getting what I’m paying for!

What exactly is organic anyway?  The actual definition of organic refers to something that’s composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen – which means that every vegetable, grain, meat, dairy, fruit and nut we eat is organic.

But in the grocery store, the use of the word “organic” on the label is meant to mean the product has been grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or fertilizers. It means the food (including the seeds it’s been grown from) has not been irradiated.  If its meat or dairy, it means the animals have been fed organic food, and have not been fed antibiotics, growth-regulating drugs, steroids or hormones (however in Australia, animals are still vaccinated against various diseases). In addition, the animals are free range.

Unfortunately, though, the use of the word ‘organic’ is not regulated in Australia.  You need to be sure that the foods with organic labels are telling the truth.  There are a few things to look out for to be sure the product is genuinely organic:

• Choose foods with the label ‘certified organic’ from one of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) accredited certifying organisations:

- Aus-Qual
- Australian Certified Organic
- Bio-Dynamic Research Institute
- Organic Foodchain
- National Association for Sustainable Agriculture
- Safe Food Production Queensland
- Tasmanian Organic- Dynamic Producers

• Check packaging for the grower’s name and certification number.
• Don’t be fooled by packaging that claims the produce is ‘natural’ or ‘chemical free’ if the proper certification labelling is not displayed.
• If you’re shopping in a store that’s selling only organic food,  check for the Organic Retailers’ and Growers’ Association of Australia (ORGAA) notice, which should be prominently displayed.

Nutritionally speaking, there’s no difference between food that’s organically farmed and food that’s not.  So really, apart from reducing the chemicals you’re ingesting, the best reason to eat organically grown food is that it is far better for the environment.

Organic farming means no chemicals ending up in the soil, air and waterways.  It’s all about sustainable farming practices and a balanced eco-system. It produces less waste and less carbon dioxide.  It is about treating animals humanely. I am more than happy to support that by buying organic.

Spring Smackdown

Dreamer II by woodlandfaerie

The sun is rising earlier and earlier, tiny pale green leaves are popping out all over the magnolia tree, the rose bushes are covered in deep red rosebuds and baby birds are flapping about the park, trying out their wings. It’s springtime!

Spring makes me think about fresh starts, new life, transformation, spring rains that make everything clean again and, of course, sunshine!  Why not take this change in seasons to give your own life a bit of a spring clean. Here’s my spring smackdown list!

You won’t be needing those long, heavy coats, sweaters and thick woollen leggings until next winter. A great way to store your wintery lingerie and leggings is to roll them up and keep them in a pretty satin bag.

It protects them, and keeps them out of the way so you’re not sifting through a tangle of stockings to find the light-weight spring hosiery.

Take your coats, jackets and sweaters to the drycleaners to make sure they’re all fresh and clean when you take them out next winter.

Zip the coats and jackets up in garment bags and store at the end of your closet out of sight. Fold up the thick sweaters and place them at the back of your drawers, out of the way.

When the sun starts shining, all those rich, heavy, wintery desserts start losing their appeal.  Fruit is amazing all spring and summer long.

Indulge your sweet tooth with fruit filled desserts:  trifle layered with berries, pear and chocolate cake, baked white nectarines, apple pie, rhubarb crumble and strawberries and cream.

You can never go wrong with cupcakes. Tantalise your tastebuds with lemon and coconut, raspberry and almond and hummingbird cupcakes!

Spring is just perfect for holding tea parties in the garden.  Stock up on old fashioned china floral tea cups, vases and jugs from op shops.

Fill your vases with big frothy bunches of cream and pale pink flowers and place them everywhere.

Make jugs of home made lemonade and Pimms cocktails, set the table with 50’s floral serviettes, doilies and your mis-matched collection of tea cups and serve cupcakes, pretty fruit platters and finger sandwiches. If you want to turn the tea party sideways, bring out the Long Island iced tea…

Plant a vegetable garden!  There’s nothing more delicious than eating veggies straight out of the garden. If you haven’t got a yard, plant your veggies in cute little pots or grow a herb garden on your window sill.

Treat yourself to a deluxe facial – the kind that promises to brighten up your skin and give you a fresh, healthy glow!

Better yet, book an entire day at a spa and get the full treatment – a body scrub and wrap, massage, facial, pedicure and manicure!  Ahh the luxury!

Take up yoga and swimming.

Get out in the countryside and go for a day hike, pick cherries at a cherry farm or go mushrooming in the woods.

Picnic in the botanical gardens, have a game of frisbee or bocce in the park or spend Saturday afternoon playing lawn bowls at your local bowls club (dressed up like old Italian olive-growing farmers, of course!).

Add touches of gold, peach and creamy-white to your wardrobe.

Try to eat fresh fish at least three times a week
(just make sure its sustainably caught!).

Wear jade nail polish.

Get a new hair colour.

Make a scarecrow for the garden.

Do you race to the newsagents each month for your fix of your favourite magazines? If you’ve never subscribed before, do it now!

Get up early and watch the sun rise.

Hang fairy lights across your back yard fence, over the tree or on your balcony and switch them on each night so you’re surrounded by twinkling lights.

Give your hair a deep moisturising treatment.  After all the harsh heating and hairdrying of winter, your hair will soak it up!

Next time you visit your local farmers market, stock up on a big bag of tomatoes. Then whip up a huge batch of tomato pasta sauce with basil, onions, olive oil, pepper and salt.

Let it simmer all afternoon so it goes thick and rich.  Then divide it up into jars, cool it down and store in your freezer so it lasts all summer long.

Redecorate your home with small touches. Bring old furniture back to life with a fresh lick of paint.  Scour antique and vintage stores for a huge fabulous old mirror that’s tarnished with age to hang in your hall.  Hunt down a pair of enormous horns to display above your doorway.   Find a gigantic vintage ceramic animal (I lean towards bulldogs, partridges and owls) and place it sitting proudly in your lounge.

Fill your home with fresh flowers every weekend – and not just one vase, but adorn your entire home with beautiful blooms!  The hall, the bathroom, the dining room, the lounge, everywhere!  I like to group a collection of different vases together on the kitchen table, each filled with a bunch of the same flowers.  In the bathroom,  I place one rose in a gorgeous antique glass cup. The heavenly fragrance fills the whole room!

Got some spare cash to invest?  Then why not buy yourself an incredible work of art?

Spring clean your home and hold a garage sale to get rid of all that “stuff” you discover hidden away that you no longer want or need!

Learn how to make do with less “stuff”, because as we all know, having “stuff” doesn’t make you any happier!

5 Good Reasons

Credits: Little Nora, JenniPenni, cattycamehome & Elif Sanem Karakoc

The world is an amazing place. My inner nerd (ok, the nerd isn’t actually that inner; yes, I am a total dork) just loves watching documentaries and science shows.  I aim to visit as much of this world as I can in my life.  So I’m dead keen on seeing this planet stay just as amazing and beautiful as it is now.  Here’s another five reasons why it’s worth taking care of this amazing planet, and the humans in it too.

• Living in a friendly community with friendly neighbours is SO nice. You know, the kind of neighbours who can collect your mail and water your plants while you’re away, who know your pets’ names and who can help you out when you need a hand.
• The ocean is an awe-inspiring, beautiful, incredible place and home to many amazing creatures.
• Riding bicycles is fun, gets you fit and doesn’t create any air pollution.
• Every child deserves an education.
• We all want to live in a world with a healthy climate and a big fat ozone layer.

Here’s five suggestions for showing some love:

• Make friends with your neighbours. Say hi to your neighbours when you see them. Have a friendly chat. Offer to help them if it looks like they need it. If it’s hard to meet them, then make up reasons!  One of my neighbours has the most incredible hot pink geraniums, so I’m going to knock on her door and ask her for a cutting. When my flatmate’s car got robbed, we let our neighbours know so they can keep their cars safe. Little things like that make the world go round! We’ve helped neighbours get into their house when they locked their keys inside, been given unwanted pot plantsby a neighbour who was cleaning out their garden and most of my neighbours let my fat gangsta cat chill in their homes (actually, I don’t think they have a choice; the little bugger just invites his fat self in).

• Avoid buying plastic bottles whenever you can. Yeah, this one is hard. I mean, it’s pretty difficult to find mixers for your next party that don’t come in plastic bottles! Anyone seen tonic water in a glass bottle?  However, I recently learned (even though its been around for years) about this huge plastic pile of rubbish floating in the Pacific Ocean. Now I am completely committed to avoiding plastic as much as possible, so I’m going to stop buying small bottles of water and juice, and use a reusable bottle instead.  If you buy a Sigg Drop of Hope bottle, $5 from every bottle will go to the Jane Goodall Institute to help improve access to clean drinking water in Africa! Top stuff!

• Cycle instead of drive! Why drive when you can ride a bike?  You’ll do the environment a favour.   If you don’t have a bike, why not hire one.  At The Humble Vintage you can hire amazing vintage bikes to get around town! Look good while you’re doin’ good.

• Help a child get an education. Goods 4 Good provide school supplies, clothing and more to school children in Africa.  They’re able to do this through donations of surplus goods. I like it! So if you run, or know someone who does, a company that might be able to donate appropriate school-related goods, get onto it!

• Install energy efficient light bulbs in your home. And, turn off any lights you aren’t using. Not only will your energy bills decrease, but you’ll also be reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses being released. Check out Choice to find out some facts on CFL’s and the Resource Smart site for suggestions and tips on what you can do.

“We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success.”
- Henry David Thoreau

Orbit

Credits: Panda Cat Baby ★ and  raspberrytart

Rounded up here are a few more links to posts, stories, pictures and more from the marvellous world of the interwebs.  Knock your socks off!

Protect your peepers: Here’s some great advice from The Beauty Brains on what your sunnies should do to protect your eyes from the sun. Gotta look after those babies, they’re the only ones you’ve got for life!

Fade those freckles: Got a freckle or two you wish would just disappear?  Beauty Addict banished hers. Find out how!

Anti-wrinkle: true or false? Hmmm….. I’ve always wondered whether anti-wrinkle creams are all that. The Budget Fashionista wonders about it too! What do you think?

Clothing Patents: Far more interesting than it sounds!  Search Google for US clothing patents.  It’s fascinating what you’ll discover.

Billboard bags. Say what?! When the Target billboards in Times Square, NYC, come down, they’re going to be turned in totes designed by Anna Sui. I think I like that kind of recycling!

I <3 Tiki Bar TV. OK, this has nothing to do with anything. But seriously, watch it. Especially the episode where LaLa makes a robot.  She makes it with science!  Er, you have to watch it to see just how sexy that is.

Sew a designer frock. That’s right. Show Studio are running a competition in which you make your own outfits using patterns from designers such as Yohji Yamamoto and Alexander McQueen. But it ends tonight! Aaargh!

Valentino: The Last Emperor. Have you seen it yet?   There’s a lot of buzz around this doco!  I’m bang up for seeing it just to see him get told that maybe he’s a little too tan… Ha ha ha.  And to see his pugs get their teeth brushed.  The super rich really are out of touch with reality…  But I think this will be a fascinating watch!

Lady Gaga: Jezebel ponders the often pantsless Lady Gaga.  What’s your take?

So that about wraps up the week, don’t you think? Have a splendid weekend!

Get your glow on

Smooth, radiant, dewy, glowing skin.  Yes, I’ll have that, please. Being olive skinned, it’s all too easy for my skin to look dull and sallow in winter and I can’t handle it any longer!    While I’ve been on a mission to hunt down lotions and potions that will make my skin look healthy and fresh, it doesn’t matter how amazing the product is if what’s going inside is no good for my skin. So I’ve done the research to find out what kinds of food deliver the best results for your skin and why.

Eat your way to bright, healthy, clear skin

Any food high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A (betacarotene), B (especially biotin), C, D and E, and minerals zinc, iron and selenium are great for your skin. Vitamins A, C and E are fabulous antioxidants. Other antioxidants include quercitine, lycopene and lutein. The foods listed here came up again and again. Luckily they’re all delicious!

• Avocado
  Avocado is loaded with Vitamin E.  It also contains potassium, vitamins A and D and monounsaturated fat.  Although this isn’t necessarily skin related, it’s too awesome not to include: one avocado provides 40% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for folic acid.   So if you’re pregnant, get into avocado! But don’t eat more than a quarter a day, as they are high in calories.

• Blueberries
  Blueberries are absolutely bursting with antioxidants.  Other fruits that’ll give you an antioxidant hit include all types of berries, pineapples, pomegranates and prunes. That list has given me a craving for a huge fruit salad!

• Eggs
  Eggs are highly nutritious, packing a hefty protein punch and packed with minerals and vitamins.  They’re great for your skin, containing omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A, while the yolks contain biotin.  Make sure you only ever buy eggs laid by free range (happy) chickens!

insalata caprese and spring salad by C.Mariani

• Green tea
  This is an obvious one!  Green tea contains extremely high levels of potent antioxidants called polyphenols.   In fact, all types of tea contain polyphenols, but green tea contains the most due to the way it’s processed. Keep in mind that green tea contains caffeine, so don’t go crazy on it or you might find yourself awake all night.  Everything in moderation!

• Kiwi fruit
  Kiwi fruit will give you a huge dose of Vitamin C.  They are also rich in vitamins A and E, plus alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid.  If you can handle it, eat the skin too because it’s a good source of flavonoid antioxidants.

• Nuts
  Nuts are great for you, containing fibre, protein and lots of vitamins and minerals.  The nuts that are especially good for your skin include walnuts (omega-3 fatty acids), Brazil nuts (selenium), almonds (vitamin E) and peanuts in the form of organic, home-made peanut butter. Peanuts contain coenzyme Q10, a powerful antioxidant. Eat no more than 20 nuts a day, as they are quite high in fats (which your skin needs, of course, but too much of a good fat is not a good thing for your waistline!).

• Oily fish
  The  oily fish with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, atlantic mackerel, sardines, tuna and herring. Sardines and salmon also contain biotin, while tuna and salmon also contain lots of Vitamin E.   Eat fish at least twice a week if not more.  Be sure to buy only sustainably caught fish.

• Oysters
  Oysters have large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, which helps your skin create collagen. A side benefit is that zinc is also great for nails and hair. Not to mention the marvellous aphrodisiac properties it has!

• Red Capsicum
  It’s so chock full of Vitamin C that once cup contains more Vitamin C than an orange! They also contain large amounts of Vitamin A, plus they are one of the few vegetables to contain lycopene.

• Red Onions
  Onions, in particular red onions, contain quercitine, another powerful antioxidant. Quercitine is a type of flavonoid, which is well known for its antioxidant activity. Other foods with quercitine include capers, tea and the skin of red apples.

• Seeds
  Containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, pumpkin seeds are also packed with iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium. You can’t go past sunflower seeds either, which contain high levels of vitamin E. A handful of pumpkin and sunflower seeds every day is great for you.  Other seeds high in omega-3 fatty acids are hemp, flax and chia seeds.

• Spinach
  Loaded with iron, calcium, fibre, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K and beta-carotene (which converts to Vitamin A), spinach is truly a superfood. It also contains lutein (brilliant for your eyes), magnesium, potassium, folate (vitamin B9), zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.  Phew! And wow.  Here’s a tip: ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) helps your body absorb iron, so when you eat spinach, drink a freshly squeezed orange juice or some home made lemonade, stir fry it with red capsicum, mix it in a salad with tomatoes or eat a kiwi fruit for dessert.

• Tomatoes
  Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene.  The best way to absorb these powerful antioxidants is to cook the tomatoes and also to eat them with a little fat. Great ideas for cooked tomatoes include freshly made tomato sauce with your pasta, baked tomatoes for breakfast and home made tomato soup.

smoothie and fruit salad by C.Mariani

Other foods

As well as eating plenty of the above, here are some more delectable foods to help you maintain a well rounded diet that will also pump your skin full of all the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals it needs to get it’s glow on.

• Honey & Lemon
  Honey is brimming with antioxidants. An added bonus is that it’s a brilliant cure for illnesses such as sinus infections and inflamed, sore throats when combined with antibacterial lemons.

• Cruciferous vegetables
  Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts have a positive effect on the female endocrine system, which helps regulate and balance hormone levels. Unbalanced hormone levels may affect your skin, so if you suffer from acne or similar skin issues, then eat lots of these vegetables!

• Whole wheat and grains
  Whole wheats and grains are low-GI carbohydrates, which help keep your insulin levels steady.  Spikes in insulin levels may cause your body to produce more hormones called androgens, which cause pimples.  So if you suffer from acne, avoid high-GI carbohydrates and instead, eat three serves of low-GI carbohydrates a day. Whole wheats and grains also contain plenty of Vitamin B, D, E, A, zinc, selenium and calcium.

lunch and fried egg by C.Mariani

Tips for the outside

These extra skin care tips can’t be left out!  It doesn’t matter how magical your skin care products are  if you don’t also protect your skin in these simple, but very important, ways.

• Don’t smoke
  The chemicals found in cigarettes release huge amounts of free radicals, which cause aging. Smoking restricts blood vessels, preventing oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin. Cigarette smoke depletes your body of Vitamin C, which you now know is an excellent antioxidant and helps your body produce collagen for the skin.

• Avoid UV rays
  We all know we need to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.  So keep out of the harsh sun, especially in the 4 hours around midday.  It goes without saying that you should use sunscreen that’s an SPF 15 or higher, and contains either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as these provide broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.  Give your skin extra protection by staying in the shade, covering up with long sleeved shirts, ensuring your sunnies block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation and wearing a wide brimmed hat.

• Drink water
  If you’re dehydrated, skin can look and feel parched, too. But you don’t have to drink 8 glasses a day.  As long as you’re drinking enough to stay hydrated, you’ll be fine. If your body tells you its thirsty, then have a drink.  Simple! You can also obtain fluids through fruits, herbal and green tea and some vegies such as celery.

• Wash your face
  How many times have I read that you should wash your face before you go to bed?!  I hate to admit it, but I’ve always ignored this!   I KNOW.  But I’ve started religiously washing my face before bed (ok, there are still a few lazy nights here and there) and my skin is looking so much better!  I guess they were right after all.

• Exercise
  I swear by exercise for improving the appearance of your skin. It’s hard to find the facts on why exercise might improve the appearance of your skin.  A likely reason is that it improves your skin circulation, which brings more oxygen and nutrients to your skin.  After only a few days of exercise, you should notice a real glow to your skin!

Here’s to healthy, radiant, smooth skin!  If you’ve got any other tips and tricks, don’t hold back – share it with us!