1. Thrift store shopping.  No Mental Health Day is complete without a spot of thrifting.   I found a pair of high waisted old Levi’s complete with genuine paint splatters, which I have already worn to eat fish and chips on the beach on a balmy summer’s evening.  Capping off the finds were a golfing-style sweatshirt, which will be perfect for an afternoon of cycling and devonshire tea and a lovely 100% wool sweater, which will be perfect for weekends in the countryside, sitting in front of the fire and drinking red wine.  It’s important to fantasise about the situations in which you can wear your clothes. As you can see, the cat is totally impressed by my scores.

2. Lie around in the garden or laze around in a cafe, drinking coffee for hours and reading your favourite magazines.

3. Eat delicious sandwiches with lettuce, tomato and cucumber straight from the veggie patch. Food picked straight from the garden is just so tasty!

4. This fruit custard tart is an example of the kind of scrumptious treat you should eat.

5.  Have cycling adventures upon your trusty steed, in my case a bicycle with the cutest light ever!  This was truly one of the best birthday presents I’ve ever received.

6. Fill your home with beauteous blooms.

Song of The Flower

I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
I am the daughter of the elements
With whom Winter conceived;
To whom Spring gave birth; I was
Reared in the lap of Summer and I
Slept in the bed of Autumn.

At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.

The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day.

I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover’s gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.

- Khalil Gibran

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.

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

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!

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!

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Phenomenal Woman – Maya Angelou

As intelligent, capable beings, we humans are responsible for taking care of this world. After reading a couple of books by ethicist Peter Singer, I am even more convinced that those who have are obligated to help those who have not.

“In the world as it is now, I can see no escape from the conclusion that each one of us with wealth surplus to his or her essential needs should be giving most of it to help people suffering from poverty so dire as to be life-threatening. That’s right: I’m saying that you shouldn’t buy that new car, take that cruise, redecorate the house or get that pricey new suit. After all, a $1,000 suit could save five children’s lives.”
- Peter Singer

Whoah, heavy stuff!  Sometimes it’s all too easy to think “What’s the point?”   The problems in this world seem insurmountable.  But that’s no reason not to do something about it!

Think about it like turning on a light in darkness.  Just one light in the dark still shines so brightly.  Your turning on the light can encourage another person to switch on a light when they see what a difference it makes.  The lights will shine far in the dark, so you may never know when someone far away is motivated by your light to switch on theirs.

Just think, if every single person in the world did even just ONE thing to help improve it, what a change we’d see!

Here are five good reasons to make the world a better place:

• Women deserve equal pay to men.
• Orangutans are adorable and it would be tragic if they became extinct
• Trees combat global warming by converting the carbon dioxide in the air to oxygen.
• Many species of fish are becoming endangered through over-fishing.
• Millions and millions of children live in poverty, without basic needs being met – like clean water, enough food to eat and medical care for easily treatable illnesses.

So here are five things you can do about it:

1. Equal Pay Day – “Women are two and half times more likely to live in poverty in their old age than men – by 2019, on average, women will have half the amount of superannuation that men have.”  - Queensland Gov’t. If you’re an employer, take time this week to ensure your female employees are being paid fairly and equally.

2.Help a ‘ranga - That is, help an orangutan or two.  Their future is in jeopardy.   Treat yourself and donate at the same time by buying a bottle of Trilogy Rose Hip Oil in September (look out for the specially marked boxes).  For every bottle sold in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, Trilogy will donate $1 to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation.

A couple more terrific reasons to purchase Trilogy products include their carbon neutral commitment, the 100% natural ingredients, the recycled packaging made from sugar cane waste and the biodegradable packaging and products. Nice one, Trilogy!

3. Plant a Tree - There are organisations all over the place to donate to and which hold tree planting days.  Look up an organisation near you and get planting!   Today I’m planting a lemon tree!

4. Buy only sustainbly caught fish - Fish is so good for you. I LOVE seafood and  I’m trying to eat fish at least two or three times a week, but it alarms me that fish are becoming increasingly threatened. The good news is that things can be turned around for endangered species, but its up to us to make the choice not to buy those fish. Encourage your local fishmonger and supermarket to sell only sustainably caught fish.  

Make sure you’re eating fish that aren’t endangered by following this list from Choice. And if you love the ocean, take action with Save Our Marine Life.

5. Sponsor a child – Having grown up in a third world country, I’ve seen poverty first hand and know how awful it is.  I always knew I could not live with myself if I didn’t do something about it, so as soon as I started my first job, I started sponsoring children. About seven years ago I made a promise to sponsor another child each time I received a pay rise, as my way of giving back and showing thanks.

Plan is the agency I use but there are many other aid agencies to choose from.  When choosing who to sponsor, I prefer to help girls from the poorest countries, because life is so much tougher for women in the third world.  At the moment I sponsor five girls from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Burkina Faso and I absolutely love it.

Here are a few facts about these countries:

• Guinea – 1 in 5 children die before their fifth birthday, 1 in 20 women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, only 38% of women give birth with a skilled health worker present, only half the population has clean drinking water and abuses such as female genital mutilation, child trafficking and child labour are widespread.
• Sierra Leone - 27% of children die before they reach five years of age, the people have suffered terribly from a long  civil war, there is huge inflation making it very difficult for poorer people to take care of their family’s basic needs (imagine if you couldn’t afford to buy food – it’s hard to comprehend) and 40% of young men are illiterate.
• Burkina Faso – 2nd poorest country in the world, less than 50% of children under the age of 11 go to school, only 13% of the population has adequate sanitation and only 61% have clean drinking water (imagine if you couldn’t drink the water from your tap!).

You can learn more about helping others in need at The Life You Can Save.  I also found this interview with Peter Singer really thought provoking.

Don’t hold back from giving good things to those who deserve it, when it’s in your power to act. Don’t say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow” when you have it with you now.

- Proverbs 3:27-28

• Don’t  miss seeing the documentary, ‘Pray the Back to Devil to Hell.’ Women like these inspire and humble me. I often wonder if I would have the courage that so many women around the world, from Liberia to Burma to Iran to Afghanistan, have shown.

• Like fine wine, women simply grow more fabulous as we age.  This stylish lady, captured brilliantly by Garance Dore, shows us how it’s done!  Screw Botox, facial peels and surgery.  Bring on the wrinkles and white hair.  They’re a sign of a life lived long and well, thus deserving of respect and admiration!

• While I’m loving this warm, sunshiny weather, it really shouldn’t be this warm until spring. What kind of summer heat waves are we going to live through in 10, 15, 30 years from now?  Make climate change your priority. Sign your name to a petition that Avaaz is taking to Copenhagen to deliver to UN leaders in September. It’s not too late to turn things around and make the world a better place to live in when we’re older!

• Scrabble has to be one of the best board games in the universe. These Scrabble ads have to be some of the most original, clever ads in the universe.

• Talent comes in many shapes and sizes.  On a Ukranian talent show, performance artist Kseniya Simonova tells a story wordlessly, using only sand. Judges and audience were brought to tears. Whoever thought sand animation would be so compelling!

• What a positively genius idea: a roll-out vegie patch! If you’ve had Gardening Fail before, this is the answer for you!    All you need to do is roll it out and remember to water it! The cardboard is biodegradable and you can get new versions every season.

• Grab yourself a copy of “Handmade in Melbourne.” Reject soulless, mass-produced, cheaply made goods and support your talented local artisans!

• It seems that everyone in town must know about Keep Cups by now, but just in case you haven’t or don’t live in Melbourne, check out these good looking re-usable coffee cups.  Two takeaway coffees a day works out to 730 disposable coffee cups a year. That’s a lot of garbage and a lot of tree killing!

• Greg Hatton makes beautiful furniture and decorations out of salvaged odds and ends, as well as willow and poplar trees, both of which are “pests” in the Aussie bush.  See more of his work on Flickr.

Photo by Kate O’Brien Creative