Taste Of Perth

Billabong stripe tee, vintage blazer, Dr. Denim jeans, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani sneakers.

Over the weekend Mario and I went along to the first 'Taste of Perth' festival. We were kindly given tickets, so went along as punters. The festival, held along the Perth foreshore at Langley Park, showcased some of the top chefs and restaurants serving up 'taste' sized dishes. Mario and I sampled dishes and drinks from Bib & Tucker, El Publico, Greenhouse, The Classroom, Print Hall and more and attended talks such as a rum class with the charismatic owner of Bar Lafayette. We budgeted spending $45 each and shared our serves, each were really well prepared and delicious. Bib & Tucker was one of the only places we had yet to actually dine at and now I want to go even more. 

Although the portion sizes were small (like smaller than tapas small), it was an excellent opportunity to try out new places and enjoy a bit of people watching. The event was well executed, and a welcome inclusion to the Perth foodie calendar. (Here it comes... an Adelaide comparison... I do this all the time...) I am used to attending a lot of food festivals back in Adelaide, which are very popular. I would say that with a little better public awareness the Taste of Perth festival will grow, and perhaps attract a stronger attendance. I think the major things which felt lacking were a national or international chef guest, something which noticeably draws in a crowd (think the gazillions of people who enjoy reality cooking shows) and perhaps a food option with a bigger portion size. I left satisfied but ultimately hungry a couple of hours later, and can imagine that to offset smaller dishes an option for something a little more filling would have been popular. The price of entry also seemed very Perth - with tickets over $30 (double the price of most Eastern states food festivals, but reflective of the International Taste Festival prices), and the average spend over $40 for food and drinks, it could add up to a costly experience quickly. 

A little note on my outfit... again teaming jeans and sneakers, and that blazer- told you I wear it a lot. Wandering around on grass equals sneakers, and this stripe tee is one of my favourite 'surf brand' cheap finds from SurfStitch. Find a link to them below, I have nothing but love for their range, prices and super speedy delivery. 

xx Jenelle

Photos by Mario Recchia and myself

Brunch

When the owner of Bella's Cupcake World asked Heidy if she'd like some cupcakes, she quickly said yes and secured a few of us for an early Sunday brunch. Why not? Now, posting this is deviating from the chronological order of events sitting in my photo collection, but this was short and sweet so I thought I'd share early. 

Thank you to Heidy for having us, cooking delicious treats, and a special thank you to Dylan for shooting these photos. 

xx Jenelle

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Winter Beauty

I thought I would treat you guys to another 'beauty post' hooray! Since we left off, I have been trialling products without so many nasty chemicals, and have been pretty happy with the results. 

Each day I am still staring with an alkalnising cup of warm water and fresh lemon, before breakfast. 

I discovered a love for Kora Organics, the smell of each product is addictive- in that I look forward to using them as often as I should. I love that these are now available at Net-A-Porter (see link to the right), and particularly enjoyed The Edit videos that Miranda Kerr shot with them last month. Be sure to check it out here. I have been adopting Miranda's fun routine of jumping for joy for a few seconds each morning to wake up and get the day started positively! :) I also love that Kora uses filtered water infused with Rose Quartz crystal, which is soothing and is believed to have heart healing properties which encourage self-love. It is nice to be assured that products are made with care and with healthy minds and bodies as an outcome. 

First of all I tried the Kora Energising Citrus Mist using it as a toner, and to freshen up as the day goes on. The Mists are also great in summer, kept in the fridge as a cooling, refreshing spray. I think I could easily keep one of the Kora Mists in my handbag, work desk, bathroom and bedside table, they are so good, next on my wish list will be the Calming Lavender, and Balancing Rosewater Mists. I am still loving the Kora Foaming Cleanser featured in the last Beauty Post (up here in case you missed it).

Rather than lather on a heap of foundation, I love to use tinted moisturisers- as they (should) contain an spf, and aren't as intense a finish as a foundation, something which ironically you need to use more, the more you use it. (Those companies are onto something there, yet again I have no doubt.)

Reading that the Kora Tinted Day Cream is the only foundation Miranda Kerr uses these days (with her busy photo schedule!) I thought I had better give it a try. Now I will point out that given we are in the middle of winter, and my skin hasn't seen many sunrays living in SA, I am not as 'tanned' as I normally am in the height of summer, so my first thoughts are, for a 'one colour suits all' product, it is VERY dark. I actually need to be really mindful of blending this product well, as it is very noticeable. I am talking 'dirty' looking smudges across my skin in unseemly patches, but the product itself is lovely. Again, it smells amazing, covers well, feels great and lasts. It is alkaline, ph balanced as are all Kora products, so I have less oil issues toward the end of the day (my skin can get a touch oily around my forehead). That is a lot of ticks, but I am the first to say 'lighten up' Kora- I am not that tanned! 

As a moisture treatment overnight and an eye cream I have been using a few drops of the Kosmea certified organic Rose hip Oil, which is an amazing way to rehydrate skin. I do find if I use it a few nights in a row I can get an impurity, so I only do this a few times a week. I notice that the Kosmea Day Spa is now open in Adelaide and they are doing a special this month, for $49 one hour facial or an $89 one hour facial and one hour massage (normally $120). Damn it, why am I only finding this out now that I have moved?! Adelaide people, get onto it. Details are here.

I wrote about MooGoo last time, having used the cleanser and moisturiser, and still happily doing so. MooGoo are in the process of developing a new line of Mineral Makeup, designed to provide a nice affordable alternative without nasty chemicals. The team at MooGoo kindly sent me some of the Mineral Foundation Powder to test, before they launch it onto the market. I loved this product. It is light, layers up to provide a nice coverage without being too heavy, or too light. I tried it on its own, or worn over the Kora Tinted Day Cream and found that it lightened and evened out my skin tone. In the form of a loose powder and a beautifully soft kabuki brush, the MooGoo mineral powder smells lovely, is easy to use and lasts well throughout the day. I will update you on when this product and the makeup line is available, as it is so good. 

Other noted products I have been trying out include the Grants of Australia Herbal and Mineral Toothpaste (not tested on animals, contain no petrochemicals, no SLS and no GMO ingredients) which has a mild minty/ cardamon flavour, and isn't gross. I find 'regular' toothpastes super weird, chemically and I have always hated brushing my teeth because of it. Spearmint 'flavour' is like eating those gross sugary lollies shaped like a mint leaf. Ew. There is no way I want that in my mouth. (Have you guys cottoned onto my dislike for lollies yet?) 

Finally I have been trying out the MooGoo Fresh Cream Deodorant. This one smells like pretty well nothing (not like a Tea-Tree plantation), works really well, and best of all has no breast cancer causing aluminium going directly into my blood stream. Gotta be happy with that! I guess the big thing about an aluminium based deodorant is that is blocks the sweat ducts, meaning your underarms stay dry, but they can not perspire naturally. If you only ever want that dry under arm feeling, then it is best to keep using your aluminium based products, but I would recommend doing a little reading up about what that is doing to your body, as it is NOT GOOD! While the MooGoo deodorant controls the bacteria, you get no bad body odour smells, which is great, but this means that you can still naturally perspire- also great, but that means your under arms aren't always 'dry'. Simply put... They aren't meant to be. 

In the last couple of weeks I have relocated back to Perth for a bit, and am happily now living with my friend Jess and her little man D'artagnan. You will probably see him pop up on my Instagram account, cause he is just too darn cute. Here he photobombed my 'beauty post' photos, so I thought I'd better include that! He is actually trying to type for me as I write this, so helpful. :)

I have a 'hair beauty post' for you, and some food stuff, as I attempt to live sugar free for a while. 

Stay tuned. 

xx Nell

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Winter Breakfast

Righto so this is a fashion/ arts departure, but I have had a few people asking about the food I eat lately, which is a pretty weird question, but at the same time, I thought I would humour them. 

I am actually pretty fussy, I don't do a lot of sugar, and refuse to have fizzy drinks, lollies, over the top fatty fast foods, and so on. I prefer water, 80% cocoa fair trade chocolate (and only occasionally in SMALL doses), and sushi or salads are my fast food.

I suppose being allergic to things like chicken, and unable to tolerate a lot of gluten, wheat or dairy, and having spent a good ten years or more 'as a vegetarian', some things are just not going to pass through my lips. I have seen nutritionists, natropaths and so on. Over the years I have been put on elimination diets, and have worked out what does and does not work for me. Also it is worth noting, that my choice to never smoke/ take drugs is a constant laughing matter as friends make fun of that, but it's my choice. I do like wine and gin, but drink little- mostly on special occasions.

Anyway, to start each day I drink warm water with fresh lemon to cleanse things. In winter I love quinoa porridge, using rolled quinoa with coconut or almond milk, goji berries, chia seeds and blueberries. 

I prefer fresh blueberries but when they are $8 per punnet, I go frozen. 

I drink at least one cup of coconut water each day- again preferably from a young drinking coconut, but also when they are $4 each, I'll settle for an organic, no added sugar carton. All of these items are easily found in the supermarket. I hate that there is a 'section' in the supermarket which denotes 'health foods' as to me it should all be health foods, but alas, that is a dream. I guess when you add up the costs of these items they can be pricey compared to say a box of cornflakes and a carton of milk, but for me, this food makes me happy, I do not have trouble with a queasy stomach an hour or so later, and I stay fuller for longer. Sometimes I do not know where my day will take me, and like to know I ate a good meal to begin with, just in case lunch is a long time away. 

Later in the morning I will then have a cup of herbal tea and occasionally coffee (but I have been trying to limit this to one or two a week), no sugar! 

Water is my favourite thing to drink, but I also like to make green vegetable juices and coconut/ yoghurt fruit smoothies. I will chuck in chia seeds, spirulina or noni juice. Also I love kale. Oh yeah, I am one of 'those' people. You can read a thousand conflicting reports on how good or bad so called 'super foods' are for you. For me, the proof is in the fact that I am healthier eating this way, I feel it. My body does not have any awkward digestive troubles, I have more energy and I look forward to eating. I think food is amazing, and I really love to enjoy a meal, giving myself the right foods, and the time to do this is important. (I have to remember this when my work load goes nuts!)

After porridge, I'll eat more fresh fruit with nuts and seeds over organic natural yoghurt or an orange or banana. Snacking on goji berries is a must- they are so tasty, I have a packet at each desk, plus they replenish my energy levels. 

A great snack I make up are batches of cocoa date energy balls. Basically with dates, nuts like almonds, pecans, walnuts, macadamias, organic cocoa powder (Cocoa Gold is the best one), coconut oil and chia seeds. I soak the dates in warm water for about 15 minutes, process all of the other ingredients in a processor, add the drained dates, sit that for ten minutes then roll them into the ball shape and finally roll them in shredded coconut or cocoa powder. If it is too dry I add coconut water, and if too sticky coconut flour or almond meal. Easy, and it makes up tons, which store well in the fridge- and make a great thing to share if people drop round, as a dessert/ alternative to biscuits to have with green tea. 

If I feel a cold coming on- this is the season, after all, I make sure to drink a lot of lemon, ginger, cinnamon and honey tea. Dude, it just kicks it to the curb. 

That takes me through to lunch time, in winter and is about enough for now. Feel free to throw me more questions or thoughts. :)

xx Nell

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