Autumn Chill

Ok I officially think that summer is over now, we had such a good run in March and I even made it to the beach - shock horror!

The other weekend I did a massive wardrobe cleanout and 2 bags of clothing have since been taken to Red Threads in Paddo (great place for second hand finds and all purchases support Red Cross). Now my plan is to selectively create a capsule wardrobe to get me through Autumn and winter.

Starting off with my Ursa Minor leather leggings I wanted to find some tops that will not only look great but will cover my ass lol, as we all know tights/leggings are not pants! That is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to clothing. That and showing your bra.

Found these few over at one of my favourite online stores Esther.....

Bring on winter I say, I love getting rugged up and chilling on the couch with a cuppa and a good book.

Till next time

Nic xx

Where has the sun gone?

So Autumn is just around the corner. The nights are getting cooler, the skies are getting greyer. Very sad really when I look back and realise that I have yet to make it to the beach all summer!!! I know it's a crime when you live so close to some of the best beaches in the world.

Anyway it gives me an excuse to plan my Autumn/Winter waldrobe. So excited about my new faux-leather pants, I know I am going to get a lot of wear out of these soon (still a bit warm to wear these).

Till next time
Nic xx

Faux sure

I don't know about you but the weather here in Sydney lately is far from beach weather. With that I have noticed that most of the retailers are starting to bring in Autumn/Winter stock! How sad is that, as I don't think I have had one day at the beach this summer - sob sob.

Well it did give me a good excuse to duck into Sportsgirl at lunch and pick up these faux leather leggings. I've been eyeing up a pair since the beginning of the US winter (damn you Pinterest). I think these are going to be a key staple in my winter wardrobe this year. Perfect item to team up with oversized knits and scarves. 

Sportsgirl Dixie Legging

Ursa Minor Leather Leggings

I've also had my eye on these from Ursa Minor cannot justify the $160 price tag and 2-6week wait time.

Think its almost that time for a spring clean of my wardrobe to clear out all the summer items to make way for winter - it will be here before we know it. Oh and to work out what will go with my new purchase.

What's your one staple item this winter?

Till next time

Nic xx

Detox-ify

So Cami and I signed up for the IQS (I Quit Sugar) Community Detox! Its free to sign up and you get sumptuous bath salts to help kick off the detox process.

Basic Rules - drink plenty of filtered water around 3L, drink herbal teas, coconut water, majority of your meals have salads and raw veggies, drink

lots of non dairy smoothies, smack on raw nuts, fruit and veggies.

Make sure that you start your day with hot water and ½ fresh lemon juice this is very cleansing and alkalizing drink for your body. Drink plenty of water before you start to eat your breakfast

I am excited about the daily recipes, especially the salad dressings. Nothing beats a home made salad dressing. Here is one of my faves:

Creamy Lime and Avo Dressing

Blend in blender:

2 x ripe avocadoes,

½ cup of olive oil,

1 cup of coconut water,

2 x cloves of garlic,

2x lime juices,

1x tbsp Himalayan salt,

1tbsp of agave nectar (or rice malt syrup)
Dash of cayenne pepper

So I am off to spend the Australia Day weekend camping at Seal Rocks this weekend. Eeeek haven't done that in donkey's years. Looking forward to whipping up some tasty (GDSF) treats to sustain us over the 3 days. Bring on the sun sand and surf.

Although my tent wont be as elaborate as this one.

What are you up to this long weekend?

Till next time.
Nic xx

Going loco for coco(nut)

Coconut oil! Ok so this is one product that I swear is the swiss army knife of the kitchen and beauty area. Some of you know that I hate Bounty Bars so coming to love coconut has been a bit of a struggle. But despite that it's growing on me.

Other than using it for cooking I can vouch for using coconut oil on your skin. OMG my skin has never felt so smooth. After suffering from Keratosis Pilaris and Eczema on my arms for years I have finally found a solution. By moisturing with coconut oil after a shower my skin is softer and the redness is disappearing. Bring on more sleeveless tops in summer.

Additionally here are10 things you probably didn't know about the humble coconut:

1. It's a healthy saturated fat - Our body metabolises these fats in the liver, immediately converting this into energy (fuel for the brain and muscle function) rather than it being stored as fat.

2. Controls weight - Researchers discovered coconut oil is easy to digest and also protects the body from insulin resistance. To try coconut oil for weight loss start by adding one teaspoon to your diet and gradually work your way up to four teaspoons per day.

3. Eases digestion - Coconut oil has been found to benefit digestive disorders including irritable bowel syndrome and microbial related tummy bugs. Fatty acids in coconut oil contain anti microbial properties, which have a soothing affect on bacteria, candida, or parasites that cause poor digestion.

4. Manages type 2 diabetes - A recent study by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research found that coconut oil protects against insulin resistance, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. MCFA fats are small enough to be absorbed into the cells where they're quickly converted to energy. It is this process that not only reduces the amount of fat we pack into storage, but improves insulin sensitivity

5. Supports immunity - Coconut oil is made up of healthy fats lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid which contain antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral prosperities to boost the immune system. Lauric acid contains the highest concentration of MCFA fatty acids, approximately 75 per cent. The body turn this fat into monolaurin which is claimed to help heal viruses such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, helicobacter pylori and candida.

6. Boosts metabolism - Researchers found that participants who consumed two tablespoons of coconut oil per day burned more kilojoules than those who consumed less. A speedy metabolism helps boost the body's immune system and keep weight off.

7. Slows fine lines - Coconut is not just for your cooking – it's a wonderfully hydrating treat for skin too. It keeps the skin's connective tissues strong, which prevents sagging and wrinkles. Apply coconut oil directly to your skin to soften the appearance of fine lines or use it daily on your face and body for a healthy glow.

8. Cooks in high temperatures - Because coconut oil is a medium-chain saturated fatty acid, it gives it a higher smoking temperature than most polyunsaturated or monounsaturated oils. If you're preparing recipes that require high temperatures you should consider coconut oil for this type of cooking. Unlike olive oil which will oxidise at high temperatures, creating free radicals.

9. Stops sugar cravings - Instead of reaching for the lollie jar for an afternoon sweet hit, try eating a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil to beat sugar cravings. This is because good quality fat is more satiating than carbs, so if you cut down on sugar you will feel less 'ravenous'. Most of us do not realise but constant hunger is a major clue that your body is not being fed correctly.  With the proper amounts of fats and protein, you can fuel your energy reserves properly, and come off the sugar roller coaster that many of us are on.

10. Easy to cook with - As you can see from my previous post it makes some seriously tasty treats. Also when roasting veggies rather than using olive oil try coconut oil, it makes roasties taste that much more special.

So next time you are at the supermarket hit up the health food isle and pick up a jar, its really not that expensive and you have nothing to loose.

Till next time

Nic xx

"Sweet" Treats

Or should I say natural treats. I found these two recipes whilst I was browsing Pinterest the other day and they are at the top of my 'to make' list this week.

Over at JuliaandLibby I found these tasty treats Bliss Balls!! These treats are deeply nourishing, healthy and delicious. These are perfect for a mid day snack (especially when you have a chocolate craving), dessert or to even stash in your desk at work

Ingredients:
1 cup raw Almonds
10 large pitted Dates
2 tbsp Cocoa Powder
Zest of 1 Orange
Juice from the Orange
1 pinch Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Extra Cocoa or Coconut for rolling

Method:

1. Grind the almonds in a food processor until fine. Add the dates, cocoa powder, orange zest, orange juice, cinnamon and salt.
2. Process the mixture until it forms a ball. If you find that the mixture is to wet then add some coconut or more ground almonds.
3. The mixture should make around 30 balls.  Roll the balls in coconut or cocoa. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Not one to pass up any lemony treat, over at Pure2Raw I came across these delicious looking Coconut Lemon Bars, whats more they are super easy to make!

Bottom layer -

• 1/2 cup coconut flakes
• 2 tbsp maca
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 30 drops stevia
• zest of one lemon

Place coconut flakes and maca into food processor and pulse till becomes finer. Then add in vanilla, lemon zest, stevia, and tahini. Press into a 6in pan.

Top layer -

• 1/2 cup coconut flakes
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 15 drops stevia

Place ingredients into food processor and blend till combined. Spread onto of bottom layer. Let set in fridge for a few hours.

Hmmmm now I am salivating looking at these images.

I will let you know how they all turned out and if they lasted more than an hour :)

Till next time
Nic xx

Sugar Free Status

So it's been almost 2 weeks now and I have to admit that besides the headaches that I had for 4 days straight it's been an easy transition.

It's been an interesting adjustment however, I have become accustom to reading the fine print on every product I pick up and it's mindblowing how many household products contain sneaky sugar! From obvious things like bread and fruit jucice to more inconspicuous items like tomato sauce and pasta bake.

In quitting sugar this means that not only is your standard table sugars out (white, raw, caster, icing) but you can count out agave nectar, cane sugar, honey and fruit.

So about artificial sweetners?
Well Aspartame is one of the most dangerous substances that is added to food.  It is sold under the brand names Equal and NutraSweet. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener/sugar substitute and one of the most common sweeteners used today.  It is a white crystalline powder made up of three chemicals – aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol.  Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, but contains no calories and can be deadly to diabetics. Prolonged consumption can lead to Headaches/migraines, Dizziness, Seizures, Nausea, Numbness, Muscle spasms, Weight gain, Rashes, Depression, Fatigue, Irritability, Vision problems and the list goes on. Best to stay well clear.

What can I use?
Well once all traces of sugar have left your system you will find that things that were once not sweet taste sweet. But for those of you that want a sugar taste in baking then Stevia (concentrate of the Natvia plant) is your go to product.  Those of you who use it know it’s extremely sweet. In fact, this remarkable noncaloric herb, native to Paraguay, has been used as a sweetener and flavor enhancer for centuries.

Coconut is going to become one of my best friends over the next few weeks, months or years (depending on how long I can keep it up). But it's a fruit you say! Well yes, but it's special. Coconut doesn't contain any fructose (which is a bad form of sugar as our bodies aren't designed to breakdown fructose) which makes coconut natures wonder product. Don't get confused with coconut sugar either - this is bad stuff - it's made from the sap of the coconut plant and provides no health benefits. More on the benefits of coconut later.

Through cutting out sugar you also naturally cut out bread and pasta, which is a bonus in my case as I am cutting out all gluten to see if it affects my eczema. So far my skin is still the same but I feel clearer, lighter and less bloated - booyeah!!

Well better put my clear unfoggy head to good use.

Till next time
Nic xx