How To Do More Of That Thing You Love

Source: FFFFound (via Sleevelessness)

So you have a passion. You love baking, or photography, or writing, but you never seem to do it. Between your day job, chores, friends and the odd at home facial, there barely seems enough time in the day to do That Thing You Love. You’ve even gotten to the point where although it’s still at the top of your “Interests” list on your Facebook page, you haven’t done this thing in such a long time that you’ve mentally downgraded it from “passion” to “hobby”. It’s just one of those things that you were once exceptionally talented at and loved doing beyond all else that you just don’t do anymore.

Ring a bell? It does here. While caught up in the whirlwind of a new job and working on this website, I hadn’t done any scriptwriting or video work in such a long time that when I did eventually get around to making something, I skipped about my apartment because I’d forgotten how much I’d loved it. Final Cut Express was the old faithful stuffed animal that got shunned for the shiny new toys I’d gotten over Christmas that was suddenly rediscovered and it renewed the elation of playing with it… Well maybe until it crashed and I hadn’t saved in a while... But that’s final cut for you. And, you get the gist.

Source: FFFFound (via Sleevelessness)

So here are some tips I’ve found to help you do more of what you love:

Find a way to make it important. Say you love photography – instead of promising to make time for it and then reneging on that promise frequently, tie it into something that you will actually do. For instance, say your Mum’s birthday was coming up – perhaps you could get your family together to take some great photos to put into a scrapbook as a present. Or you could take some photograph restoration courses and restore some of her favourite photos that have faded or a simply old and tattered. Similarly, if you make writing on your blog a priority, and you love film and editing, make a video for your blog.

Make a habit of it. This is where I like to use my “21 Days to Change a Habit” stationary from Kikki K. Do that thing you love everyday for 21 days, and it’s said that you should have by then made that thing into a daily habit. So, say I wanted to hone in on my writing, I would challenge myself to write every day for a week (yes, even weekends) and when I get to the final day of my week I would reward myself with something, like a trip to Video Ezy or a block of Raw Dark Chocolate. This trick also works if for flossing.

Make Your Passion Easier To Do. You love painting – but every time you do it you have to clean your brushes and pack everything away and sometimes it’s just easier to roll over and die. Yes. It sucks. So perhaps you could try to make it easier for yourself. Instead of getting out your paints, perhaps you could simply sketch, or try using a drawing tablet with a program like Photoshop. You like photography, but hate carrying around your giant expensive camera bag? Perhaps you could experiment with the camera on your phone instead. Trying new mediums can help to broaden your artistic horizons and make your work in your original medium better. And hey, if you don’t like it, just switch back.

Do That Thing You Love With Your Friends. You love baking? Well I bet your friends will love you baking too. Or Snorkelling? Well, I bet you have at least one friend who would jump at the chance to spend a day at the beach with you. Or photography? Throw a picnic and invite your friends to dress up in vintage wear and get snapping. Love baking, snorkelling and photography? Combine all of the previous for a delicious vintage picnic photo shoot at the beach. Involving someone else means that you commit time to That Thing You Love and it’s a lot harder to wriggle your way out of. If your friends are obliging, it can be the quickest way to get out of your Thing-You-Love-less rut and before you know it you’ve fallen back in love with That Thing You Love once again.

Good Luck!

How To: Change Your Hairstyle

For my next cut, I do choose, Rose Byrne: Wicker Park style

Oooh man do I love getting haircuts. Having quite short styled hair complete with a blunt fringe, I count myself amongst the lucky people who simply have to get their haircut at least every eight weeks. From the wash (only good if it’s completed with a great massage and suitably warm water, I do admit) to the brushing, snipping, razoring and blow drying, I’m a big fan of the whole process.

I have found, though, that a lot of people don’t share my passion for hair fashion. ‘Why not?’ I ask, bewildered by their apathy toward the subject. The most common responses? Previous awful hair experiences, fear and complete confusion as to want they want in a haircut. Of course, taking it upon myself to rectify this serious societal problem is a big undertaking, but start I will today in an endeavour to help lasses and lads everywhere acquire the locks of their dreams.

Step One in Changing Your Hairstyle: Find a good hairdresser. I’ll admit, this step can take time, patience and may involve a lot of trial and error. When I moved to Brisbane last year, and left behind Jason/God Of Hair (women of Toowoomba look him up), I tried no less than four different hair stylists before I finally found one that I liked. My criteria for a good hairdresser stands as follows:

Good conversation maker/salon atmosphere – because you’re going to be sitting in a chair whilst they touch your hair sometimes quite intimately, I find a hairdresser needs to be at the very least personable. The first hairdresser I visited in Brisbane cut my hair with an attitude of what can only be described as intense and seething anger, which made me just a tad uncomfortable. The second liked to talk about himself and all the ‘ladeez’ he managed to pick up over the summer…not a turn on. The third…well…she didn’t talk so much as stare blankly at the back of my head, taking her sweet time to cut my hair until I feared quietly slipping into a boredom induced death. I doubt she would have noticed.

Skilled with hair – this seems obvious, but you would have no idea how many people return to the same crappy hairdresser for every cut to only be disappointed, yet continue to blame their perpetual bad hair days on the fact that they chose the wrong cut, just ‘can’t do’ hair, have naturally bad hair or that the cut has ‘grown out funny’. People, a good hairdresser will cut to suit your face shape and hair type, will show you how to style a new cut at home and ensure that the cut will still look alright in four weeks time once it’s grown a bit. Don’t settle, demand hair respect!

Charges fairly – I’m a believer in sometimes getting what you pay for with these kinds of things, but you should never, never be paying somebody upwards of $100 to fiddle with your hair for less than an hour. Do you charge $100/half hour to do your job? Probably not (well, ok, you might, but do you really think that this kind of pricing isn’t a rip off for a haircut? Really?). The last time I got a hair cut I paid $85 and the appointment lasted ninety minutes. This might still seem a little steep, but it’s what I’m prepared to pay for a good cut (keep in mind that haircuts tie with icecream for one of my favourite everyday experiences). You need to set your price limit and stick to it, decide how much value you can afford to place on hair and then find someone who will do a good job for that price. Trust me, it’s doable. Most salons have price lists on their websites these days, look them up and when you book in confirm the cost. Do this again before they start cutting.

Have Good Hair Themselves – Ok, so you’re paying this person to make your hair look splendid, right? Does their hair look amazing? Not really? Well, they think it does. They think that hairstyle is the definition of awesome, and you know this is true because they’re a hairdresser and they could easily change it if they wanted to. Yes, they’re human, and so it’s possible that they didn’t spend much time on it in the morning while they were rushing to feed the dog and find their missing shoe, but if you truly think that the way their hair is cut is dreadful then you might want to part ways amicably before you’ve become a matching set.

People are always saying that if you are looking for a new hairdresser then you should scope out people whose hair you like and ask them where they get it cut. Is this not the most ridiculous piece of advice ever? I’ve not met anybody who has actually done this to a stranger. It is, after all, a good idea in theory, just potentially waaay too stalkery and likely to get you smacked down if you pick the wrong person. Luckily, this wonderful little invention called the internet can take the hassle right out of this situation. There are plenty of sites set up for reviewing hairdressers and all sorts of forums where you can ask for advice about a good stylist in your area. Put the hard yards in at the research stage and your chances of getting a good cut are going to be a lot higher.

Step Two – Choose the Cut. Going to the hairdresser with absolutely no idea what you want done isn’t usually a great choice, neither is the question ‘if you could do anything you wanted with my hair, what would you do?’ In my experience, this question and ‘I’ll do whatever you want’ attitude makes hairdressers nervous if you’re looking for a significant style change. This haircut is about you; it’s your hair and will effect how you will look for the next few months at least, so you need to do some work and figure out what you want.

There are three main things to think about in how you want your hair. Lifestyle is always important; whether you need to be able to put it up to exercise or want to be able to wear it out with fancy dressers, how much you have time to do and maintain it and how often you want to get it trimmed and touched up. Secondly you must consider how the new style will complement or remark upon your current style; a short, pixie cut teamed with your usual jeans and jacket combo will be a completely different look to long, cascading tresses and you need to be prepared for what the new look might make you feel like. Will you really be able to pull off a mohawk everyday, or should you go for something still edgy, but a little less conspicuous. Lastly, of course, is how you’ll look with the new hairstyle. Think realistically about how your hair will sit in the style you want, and be mindful that a new cut doesn’t change your hair’s natural body and shape.

I always find that taking a picture in to the hairdresser is the easiest way to communicate what it is that you’re after, and from there your stylist will know how that particular cut has been worked and can tell you how they can make a similar idea work with your hair. Clipping a couple of different cuts or photos will also give your stylist options, and give them an idea of the feel you’re after without locking them into copying an ‘exact’ style.

After years of more or less chin length hair, I’ve decided that this is the year I will grow my locks out again. I’ve talked to my hairdresser, and we’ve discussed how to go about growing out the layers I already have and how we’ll try to avoid any odd looking in between lengths. Changing your hair is one of the easiest (though if you’re growing it, it does take some patience) ways to change your appearance, and can quickly refresh your sense of self style and confidence.

In case you're still a little scared (or just because it's pretty awesome), try practising by getting a 'virtual haircut' instead. (have your headphones at the ready and close your eyes!)

How To: Buy a New Pet Fish

Some readers may remember Godwin, the best pet fish who ever lived, who sadly passed away (had to be euthanized, which, if you've ever had to euthanize your pet fish, you'll know is not a pleasant experience) about a month ago. Godwin would not have wanted people to mourn over him too long, he was a positivity kind of fish. In fact, I'm sure that if he were here he would be encouraging me to pick up and move on, put a new fish in the ol' tank and forget all about him. While I, nay we, shall never forget Godwin, it is time, I think, for a new fishy friend to join the household.

Thus: How To Buy a New Pet Fish

Preparation
It's really important to prepare properly for bringing home a new pet fish, much as you might for bringing home a new boyfriend or child. Fish are extremely sensitive to new environments, perhaps even more so than boyfriends or infants!, and it's your responsibility to make the transition as easy for them as possible.

The first thing you should do, nay, you must do, is clean out the tank. Why, you ask? Well, you know that burning feeling of anger and general appalledness you have when you get the keys to a new rental property, only to arrive with your stuff to find the place shut up, uncleaned and stinky? You do not want your new fish feeling these feelings of rage towards an unclean environment. Keep in mind that the reason you're getting a new fish is usually because the last occupant passed in that very tank, and give it a good scrub out. How would you feel setting up house in a drowning death site if nobody had disinfected first?

Put the filter on (you should have a filter...if not consider this to be the reason that your last pet died, and purchase one immediately) for a couple of days to get everything settled, and buy a new plant so new fish has somewhere to hide if moving day becomes a bit too much.

Preparation is key to getting a new fish. Remember, fish are prone to dying speedily and with minimal cause. Try not to kill yours on the first day.

Choosing the Fish

Yay! This is the fun part! Your new friend should be chosen with your specific needs in mind. Do you want a hardy, difficult to kill variety? Are you after something a bit more rare, a tropical offering perhaps, and if so do you have the facilities to care for such an aqua-beast? What kind of colour scheme are you going for in the room where the new fish will be situated (seriously)?

When it comes to the choosing of the actual specimen part, I like to stand in front of the tank and see which fish approaches me first, just like a puppy (all my life I have been trying to make these two domesticated animals interchangable ). Then I make sure the playful personality doesn't belie a tendency to eat other fish (cannibalism is not so on at my house) and doesn't have any droopy/broken/weepy bits that don't look right (chances are if the fish doesn't look right now, it'll be dead tomorrow. Fish World = Harsh World). Next you've got to get the pet shop person to actually scoop up the correct fish, and then it's time to go home!

Life With Your New Housemate

Fish are creatures of habit, and if you keep this in mind looking after your new pet should be a breeze. Try to feed every day at the same time and with the same amount. Overfeeding is the easiest way to accidently rid yourself of pet caring duties, try to give small pinches of food and watch to see if your fish eats the whole lot instead of tempting the poor thing with a massive and deadly feast. A goldfish will tend to eat until all the food is gone, instead of stopping at the full mark.

Stray away from sudden changes in atmosphere, such as drastic heating changes or changing the room the fish lives in often. It's proven that even gold fish can recognise faces, so give your fish a bit of attention during the day and it'll soon know you when you come near (note that especial excitement will abound at feeding time...it is not your face in this instance that the fish is going crazy about). Every so often as a special treat you can feed your fish a frozen (but left to defrost) pea or even buy some blood worm tablets.


Fish are, and I say this with seriousness, pretty awesome pets if you treat them right. They have personalities, quirks, habits and, most importantly, lives of enough signifigance that they deserve respectful treatment if procured as a pet for people. I'll be buying my new pet fish, Godwin II (working title) soon, and you'll all be introduced the minute I perfect the art of taking fish photographs (so. difficult.)

How To: Throw Themed Party

Mad Hatters party theme funtimes

Themed parties are all the rage these days, or at least that’s the assumption I'm making from the sheer number of them I’ve been to in recent times. A theme adds a little bit of cohesiveness to a gathering and establishes a common bond between guests who might not know each other. Both throwing a themed party and attending one can be a lot of fun, but there are some things to consider before your guests arrive.

How intense the theme? In ANTM terms, is your party modelling the theme from head to toe, or is it just fun suggestion? Do you want guests in full blown costumes, including face paint and wigs, or would it be ok if they just picked up a sparkly hat at the two dollar shop, wore it in and then left it in the corner for the rest of the night. People will follow your cue in this department, so you need to make sure you make it clear what you’re after.

Decide whether your theme will influence things like the food, the colour scheme and the music. Will there be a need for themed decorations, party favours, waiters/waitresses, invitations?

If h to t theme is what you’re after, make it clear from the way you design your invitations/facebook page, provide some costume ideas for those who might get stuck and be aware that how you talk about the party beforehand will influence the way people address it.

Who are you inviting? I’m not saying that you’ve got bad friends, but if the idea of throwing a themed party makes you dizzy with excitement while it makes those on your guest list cringe, perhaps it’s time to broaden your social circle. It’s no fun being the host of a party attended by embarrassed/non-committed schleps wearing their everyday casual when you’re dressed to the nines as Hugo Weaving’s drag queen in Priscilla. If you know that a lot of your friends and family might not be comfortable theme-ing it up, encourage them with reminders that they won’t be the only ones in costume and, if all else fails, use the guilt card and let them know how important it is to you that the party is party amazing.

Not to put a dampener on any fun, but do keep in mind the appropriateness of the theme when you’re planning. For example, an S&M theme, while to you might seem hilarious/a bit kinky, might not be a suitable experience for your great grandmother or three year old cousin to share.

What say you? Nerd theme? Okay!

What theme will you have: The choice of theme is probably the most difficult decision you will encounter in the party throwing process. If there’s something that really interests you, such as anime or Shakespeare, then throw that party. If nothing comes to mind but you really want to host an amazing costume party, there are plenty of lists out there on the internet that should give you an idea. The themes that you can apply to a party are seriously endless, here are a few that I’ve been to in the last few years to start the inspiration; Alice in Wonderland, Hollywood Glamour, Moulin Rogue, Black and White, Black and Red, Blue and Yellow, Toga, Texas, LA, 1920s, 1940s, Grease, Coming Out/All Things Gay, Halloween, Pirate, Neon, Masque, Mad Hatters, Favourite Hollywood Star, Nerd, Animals, Mexican…and there are more that I’m forgetting.

Themes are fun, allow you to have a starting point for planning, encourage creativity and ease the path for mingling amongst guests. They might also require a bit more hard work than your regular party, but it usually pays off. If you’re looking to give it a go soon, I suggest starting off with the easily idea laden Friday the 13^th theme this Friday. Go, theme, have fun!

Hola for Mexican theme! (Awful caption puns are my speciality)

PS. This isn’t entirely related, but for some amazing theme planning ideas check out all the themed weddings on Rock n Roll Bride.

How To: Make Not Buying Clothes Work For You

Source: amylouiseag

(As written in early April, while I was still a long way off my mad shopping antics of the last two weeks... Let's just say I went into Hawaii with a suitcase that weighed 15kg, and came home with one that weighed 23kg, and a new carry on that weighed 7kg, plus another bag filled to over flowing... Outlet shopping and the high Aussie Dollar are partly to blame.)

The last time I bought any clothes was a fortnight ago, when, horrified, the zip on my strapless top began to break in the middle of Queen Street Mall. I quickly dashed into the nearest open clothing store (Supre, unfortunate as that is) and searched for something that I might be able to wear more than once, while the girls I was with played the “shirt or skirt, shirt or dress” game. I bought a leopard print top (which it turns out is actually designed to be a dress. I don't think I’ll ever wear it as a dress…). This, a white cami (my old one went through the wash and came out a pink cami) and one other top is all the clothing I’ve bought since October. This is a big change from my uni days where I’d buy a new clothing item once or twice a week.

Whether you’ve made the decision to stop buying clothes for environmental reasons, spiritual lent-type reasons, or the decision was made for you by your pay packet, changing from shopaholic to new-cloth-aphobe can be a difficult and painful experience. Clothes are so pretty and nice and wonderful, and dressing yourself well is an important part of making a good impression and it’s an outward sign of your self-value.

So how do you maintain your image as a stylish and sophisticated young person when you’re conscience or bank balance starts getting in the way?

• - Rediscover your wardrobe: Where are the old items you used to love, and why don’t you wear them anymore? If some of them need mending, hop to it! Chances are if you were to replace it the new item wouldn’t be as good as the original anyway. What about the items in your ‘drobe that you bought but have only worn once? I’m sure you bought them for a reason. Perhaps it’s time to let them have a second chance?
• - Avoid going shopping for the first few weeks. At first you’ll love the new enviro-conscious/fiscally responsible you, but soon those old demons will come back to haunt you. You’ll feel as though any outfit you put together would be better if only you had some other item you haven’t bought yet, and wearing them as they are will seem like a boring let down, despite the fact that you wore them without the desired item many times before and it looked awesome anyway. Chances are that in the first two weeks of your new shopping attitude it will seem as though your friends will invite you to shop more than they ever have. But stay strong, and avoid when possible!
• - Get into cooking. This might seem like a ridiculous idea for many of you, especially if “a big night slaving over a hot stove” results in chicken nuggets, tomato sauce, steamed peas and carrots and piece of bread. But cooking is a great way to temporarily shift your mind and creativity away from fashion. It’s a great skill to have and in this day and age of eating out and ordering in, culinary skill is next to godliness. If you’re a stranger to the kitchen start out small and work your way up! Borrow Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals or get your hands on an easy baking Women’s Weekly cookbook. And when people ask you if you wore that outfit already once this week, you can distract them with your mesmerisingly delicious crème brulee! Haha, foiled you again, fashion police!
• - Focus on your body and skin care. After all, you can have the most stylish outfit in the world but if you don’t glow from the inside out, it’ll never meet it’s mind-blowing potential. Download a free meditation podcast, hit the gym, make your nails beautiful or buy a new hair or face mask. Focus on drinking lots of water to make your skin sing! Who needs new clothes when you look this good? 

How To: DIY Beauty Products

Image courtesy of Keeper of the Home, where there is a fantastic article on why and how you should be making your own beauty products.

It is rare these days that anything we buy is actually worth the money we pay for it, and while that’s what makes it special sometimes to splurge on something pretty or useful, it is always nice to be left with some spare change at the end of the day. I have long been a fan of do it yourself, home made beauty products for both financial and health reasons, and I thought I’d share my top ten favourite finds with you today. 

Honey

Oh praise to you the lord our Honey! Honey is packed with nutrients that are great for the skin when applied topically, and while very moisturising, is a fantastic treatment for blemishes as well.

It’s a very common misconception that oily skin needs to be ‘dried out’ and not moisturised, something which will actually exacerbate the problem far more as the dried skin becomes irritated, the sebum glands go crazy trying to rehydrate the skin and blemishes fail to heal over properly. The beauty of honey is that, while moisturising, it won’t leave any coating or heavy residue to make you worry about blocking pores or causing breakouts. 

It is important to try and use raw honey, the heating techniques used to process honey can wipe out a lot of the nutrients. Manuka honey, if you can get your hands on it, is particularly great for skin. To apply either simply dab the honey on singular spots and leave to work overnight, or spread on thinly as a facemask, leave for ten to twenty minutes and then remove with warm water. If you want to get really serious, while using the honey mask hold your face over steaming water for a few minutes to really allow the honey’s nutrients to sink into the pores. 

Egg Whites

Looking for the perfect face mask to leave you looking bright and perky before a big night out? Look no further than the egg carton in your fridge. 

Beaten egg whites spread on the face and left for ten to fifteen minutes will tighten the skin, toning and brightening for a picture perfect finished look. You really won’t use more than one white, so while it might be tempting to whip up a bowlful in the name of decadence, remember the thrifty element to this exercise. If you want, use the left over egg yolk as a conditioning mask for your hair. 

Steam

The very first piece of advice I would give anybody having difficulties with oily skin, blocked pores and acne is to steam, steam, steam! Steaming allows the pores to open, which in turn allows the other products you are using to work even better. Keep in mind that acne is not just a surface problem; the toxins rising out through your skin and the infections they cause start in the deep layers of your skin. Rectifying the problem will be made a much quicker process if you can have some access to the root problems, which is where steam comes in handy!

Steaming is incredibly simple. Firstly boil some water (if you’re worried about the steam being too hot, especially if your skin is sensitive or drier then don’t quite boil), pour it into a basin or bowl and place your face over the top. For bonus points cover your head and the bowl with a towel. I like to steam twice a week for three to five minutes if I can, and when I stick to this routine my skin is much much clearer, brighter and healthier looking. 

Scrub

Perhaps my very favourite on the list is this scrub, the original recipe for which I found on Skye's Princess Portal (now The Lost Princess). It’s a sugar based scrub, and while I normally use white sugar, I have found that brown sugar creates a much softer scrub perhaps more suited to those with drier skin.

For the scrub simply combine a couple of tablespoons of sugar with one to two teaspoons of rosemary (I usually use dried, but fresh would of course be better!) and one clove of crushed garlic. I prefer to use the mince garlic you can buy in supermarkets in tubes for this, as it’s a little less intense and easier to work with. I find that fresh garlic can be a little burny on my face.

The garlic in this recipe is very antibacterial and so great if you’ve got any blemishes you’d like clearing up. Also, it just adds a nice cleansing property to the exfoliation of the sugar. The rosemary promotes circulation and leaves my skin glowing. 

The Oils

Olive Oil!!

Olive oil, you are my hero. Did you know that one of the best ways to clean away oil is with oil? In fact some oils, such as castor oil, can do such a good job that they actually dry out not very oily skin! In the past I have used olive oil simply as a cleanser, which involved massaging the oil onto my face and wiping off with a warm facewasher. I mainly use olive oil as a short mask after steaming, when it can seep right down into my pores and really moisturise.

I also love to use olive oil on my hair. I’ll usually use it at night time when I know I’ll be washing my hair the next morning. I apply it by simply putting a tiny amount on my hands and running it through my hair like any regular serum or conditioning cream. After a thorough wash out the next morning my hair feels incredibly soft. 

Jojoba Oil

There are people out there who swear by using jojoba and nothing else as a moisturiser and when I finish up with my current (and devastatingly discontinued) Lush face serum, this is the direction I’ll be heading in next. Jojoba is scientifically proven to be just about as close to the actual sebum our skin produces as you can get, and so is great for moisturising and toning the skin. 

I’ve found it pays with oils like jojoba to sometimes pay a slightly higher price for a higher market product. I’m not sure why or how, but there can definitely be a difference in essential oils depending on how much you fork out. 

Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil is great for a multitude of skin ailments, from dry patches to uneven colouring to eczema and other inflammatory issues. Apply rosehip oil to the areas you think need attention and watch it work its soothing magic. 

Tea Tree Oil

Searching for a spot cure to curb the mess that all the Easter chocolate is going to make on your face? You need not pay loads, all you simply need is to buy a bottle of tea tree oil. Tea tree is usually the main ingredient in any spot treatment anyway, so why not go straight to the source and get all of the tea tree benefits undiluted and free from preservatives and toxins? Dab tea tree onto any spots, cuts or scrapes as antiseptic healer. 

Peppermint Oil

I’m currently big into using peppermint oil as my ‘cure all’ for mild ailments. This week I’ve added a few drops to some steamy water to create a breathable (and much better for you) cough lozenge and nasal decongestant. Also, one tiny drop massaged onto the temples will cure a headache perhaps bought on by stressed out, over tight muscles and make you smell like a candy cane. 

Sleep, water, diet, lemons, green tea

We end on that tired old note, that while given time and again, it seems everyone just wants to ignore. The best way to look amazing on the outside is to treat your body amazingly both inside and out, which includes getting plenty of sleep and rest, curbing stress, drinking as much water as you possibly can (I’m still a huge believer in adding lemon juice) and watching your diet for an overload of sugar and icky preservatives. I have also found that drinking green tea has done absolute wonders for my skin.

So there you have it, my list of easy at home beauty tricks that will hopefully have you feeling and looking bright and beautiful. If you’re looking to really blow out, my favourite combination of these is beginning with a steamy face steam, then massaging olive oil into my skin (you can add some to you hair here too), followed by an invigorating sugar scrub and finished off with a honey mask, cup of tea and bed time.

How To: Self Esteem

Feeling a little bad about yourself? Maybe you failed a test, ate too much chocolate, lied to a friend or went on an irresponsible spending spree. So how do you fix your lowered self esteem.

 

If only it were that easy! Self Esteem Shop found here.

Having good self esteem is hard work and it’s a continual journey. It’s not something that you can fix in ten minutes with a magazine how to guide and a new haircut and it’s not something that once attained you can just forget about. Having good self esteem requires you to prove time and again that you are valuable, beautiful and worthy. 

More than ever before there is an overwhelming social interest in self help, in loving yourself and being happy to be the person you are. Interestingly, there is also major concern building about the number of people with very little self confidence and self worth. The reason why? Self esteem has become a repeat industry, like diet and exercise. The people selling ‘self esteem’ don’t want you to be fixed in the long term or else there would be no business left. They want you to feel good for a little while, drop back down and come crawling back for more of what made you feel so happy. It’s the reason why every girl’s magazine can run ‘How To Be More Confident’ editorials in every issue and the public still lap it up. Self esteem is the new opiate and everyone is selling it.

 

So how to get out of a self esteem rut for real? The answer is simple in words, intensely difficult in practice; you need to prove to yourself that you actually deserve respect. You have to show yourself that you are something to be confident about, something to bank on and that no one can live life in quite the way that you can. It’s not enough to just think that you are good at something, or just know that you have potential, that you’re a hard worker, that you’re creative and a great team player. You need to live it. It might feel like you’re taking a giant step here, especially if you’re not feeling too great about yourself already, but remember; taking real action is the only way to manifest real, tangible results. We demand of our friends, families and colleagues continual proof that they deserve our love and respect, so why not of ourselves? 

You need to identify exactly why don’t you feel good about yourself. You’re not achieving well in your job or at school? Then show yourself that you can work hard, commit fully and seek assistance until you are. You’re not happy with your appearance? Look firstly at how you’re treating your body; if you’re filling it with disgusting toxic junk or starving it into malnutrition then you’re not exactly taking the steps towards making an appearance that will appeal to you, are you? Taking control of the journey between where you are and where you want to be is the key to coming out the other side as a human being you can respect, love and be proud to be.

 

So much of our self confidence lies within perception and choice, and so often people work much harder to sabotage their chances than change their reality. The magazines and television shows and the books and the self-helpers don’t want to tell you, but self esteem can be nurtured by you and you alone. Once you start respecting yourself you will find that others do the same purely because you make it an expectation. 

Take control, accept responsibility and enjoy living your life.

How To: Update Your Personal Style (In Particular, Your Wardrobe)

Most of us agree that our personal style is important and that how we present ourselves outwardly affects both how we feel inwardly and how the world at large treats us. As we go about our lives, we naturally update our beliefs, routines and values as our range of experiences broadens, but how do we go about updating our personal style to suit the new person we’ve become?

“‘Style’ is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma.” John Fairchild

All images in this post are taken from my own personal 'style inspiration file'. Most are quite old and I haven't saved the sources, so if you know where they come from please let me know and I will credit them properly immediately.

Personal style is just that; it’s personal and as such it should be unique. The clothing you choose to wear should say something about the person you’re trying to be, what you value and what you like. Sometimes, though, what we wear can become a bit out of step with who we really are. Taking time to recalibrate your wardrobe and style to make sure it aligns with the persona you’d like to be portraying can make a world of difference to your confidence and to how people perceive you.

Questions To Consider When Updating Your Style:

What Makes You Comfortable?

When it comes to looking good in any clothing, comfort is key. We all have different thresholds for clothing comfortability tolerance; some people will only be happy when wearing the cosiest of clothing, while others will sacrifice sore toes to wear high heels all night because it makes them feel special and confident. The important thing is to understand your limits and needs before picking out clothes. For example, I detest wearing anything tight around my waist that might slip down constantly or will stop me from sitting or standing comfortably. I know that if I’m trying on a dress that’s completely unfitted, and the sales assistant tells me it’s made to look great with a belt cinching it in, it’s not the dress for me.

Nothing is less attractive than a person whinging about the clothes/shoes/accessories that they chose to wear, and nothing makes you lose confidence faster than feeling like you can’t pull off the outfit you’re wearing. Before you do any shopping, swapping or restyling, make sure you have a think about what you actually like to wear and what you don’t.

What Makes You Confident/What Makes You Feel Good?

Chances are you already own one outfit that you really love to wear, that makes you feel strong, happy, invincible and independent. It might be the special combination of pieces that you save for job interviews, it might be the one dress you’ve worn every time you’ve had a fantastic night out dancing, it might be your wedding outfit or the clothes you put on for the days when you need to do some super productive studying at home before exams. Have a think about that outfit and what it is that makes it special to you, whether it’s the cut, the material, the design or the story behind your ownership of it so that you can incorporate some of those aspects into your everyday wardrobe. After all, saving the strong, happy, invincible and independent outfits for special just means that you spend a whole bunch of days in between big events feeling pretty mediocre.

What Inspires You?

I find that I draw most of my style inspiration from what I can see around me, and with style being such a visual and emotive medium, it’s easy to see why this is a common finding. Often I will be inspired by movie characters, the pictures of people attached to really interesting interviews or by someone I see on the street or on the internet.

When you see a style or outfit you like, something that you just can’t get out of you head, have a think about what it is that attracts you to it. It might be the colour scheme, the silhouette, the panache of the wearer or the hint of the attitude that person is exuding. Understanding why you like what you like will help you understand how you can incorporate these inspirations into your own daily style. 

What Do You Have Already?

You might be starting to think that this style update thing is going to cost you a pretty penny, but it shouldn’t have to. Make sure you have a good sort through the clothes that you already have, giving the items that you don’t want to wear anymore to friends or charity (after all, one man’s worn out, ill fitting suit is another man’s vintage treasure). Chances are a lot of what you already own will fit in with your new style direction already, or will with a little tweaking. You were still you when you bought it all, after all, and a style update doesn’t necessarily mean complete personality overhaul.

What Is Your Plan?

If you’ve decided that what you’d like to be your style and what you’re actually wearing just don’t match up, it might be time for a bit of shopping. You might be cheering, you might be groaning, but either way if it’s new clothes you need then you’ll have to get them from somewhere. The best way to combat problems in this area (overspending/fitting room angst/buying items that fall outside of the style you’ve just decided you’re going for) is to have pre-formulated a good plan.

You need firstly to decide upon a budget. Spending more than you can afford or shopping in stores way out of your price range is not going to make you feel good about yourself, and thus will defeat the entire purpose of this activity. Know how much you are happy to spend before you spend it and if you think your will power might be tested, make sure you only have that amount accessible to you.

You also need to keep in mind that moderation is key here, remembering how fast your tastes can change. It would be silly to spend thousands of dollars kitting yourself out with a full leather wardrobe to perfect the tough rockstar chic look you have in mind for this winter, if by next year you’ll be all about flower power and making daisy chains not war. My rule of thumb is to buy two or three new, good quality pieces at the beginning of winter and then again at summer, with the possibility of adding some new basics (for me; singlets to be layered, colourful tights, cardigans) if need be.

Think about how the new items you buy might match with what you already own. There’s no point in buying a whole bunch of separates that clash with each other and then having to buy more new items to match them just so you can wear them.

Your clothing is of course only one aspect of your style, and it’s certainly possible to wear clothes that you absolutely love without loving yourself in them. To have a truly unique-to-you style means understanding who you really are and accepting it, because otherwise you’ll always just be playing dress up as the person you think you should be. My last tip; there is nothing more stylish than a person who respects themselves and is not afraid to show it.

Nail Care – A Guide for the Busy and Bewildered

 This lady's nails are very cute. I'm going to attempt to have these exact nails for Easter, because I like to aim high. Click on image to be taken to the source of such inspiration. 

A note, dear readers, before I begin; if you are already of fine nail hygiene, if you posses nails long and elegant, if your phalanges could easily double for those of a pro hand model, then this post is not for you.

If you set aside time for manicures or have ever used the term ‘nail art’ without any air of irony, then this post is not for you.

If you can, at this moment, hear your nails tapping on your keyboard as you type, and not just the kerplunk of fingertips on plastic, then, sadly, this post is not for you.

This post is for those whose schedule is too cramped to allow for more than five minutes of nail TLC time per week. It is for those who have long stared at the strong, reliable, stunning nails of others and dreamed of how exotic it might feel to have hands so attractive, meanwhile nervously flicking their own until they break. It is for those who grow bemused by the range of nail care products at the pharmacy, to the point that they leave with a bottle of baby pink ‘Liquid Calcium’ that burns like no tomorrow.

For these people, of whom I am a fellow, I write this post.

A guide to caring for your own nails in five minutes, once a week, and with only two utensils required.

 

Preamble:

A lot of people, I would even hazard a guess at the majority, grow up with some knowledge of how to care for their nails. Whether it’s clippering once a week, whipping out a handy nail file as soon as a breakage occurs or cutting cuticles, people seem to know about nails. It does make sense, we should all know about them because we all have them, right? Wrong. There are a large number people out there who know just as much about nail care as most of us know about what it is a spleen actually does. I was once one of those people.

Nail care can be time consuming, expensive and intricate, yes, which can be supremely off putting for those who have little spare time, money and patience. As with anything that has an over-hyped, over-marketed, consumer duping industry attached, though, the basics of nail care can also be whittled down to a simple and quick at home process.

Requirements

• Nail Buffer/Shiner

• Glass Nail File

 Directions

•  Cuticle Care: After your shower, when your cuticles are softened from the warm water (these are the normally hard, clear skin bits growing at the bottom of your nail) gently push them downwards with the back of another nail. Please note the world gentle, this should not hurt at all, but will leave you with smooth, un-raggedy nail beds. Repeat twice weekly.

• Nail White Care: Invest in a glass nail file, I can guarantee they’re worth it. Filing strengthens nails even more so than clippers, and glass files are particularly brilliant because they never wear out like the traditional emery boards and they don’t crack or tear your nails like steel files can do. To shape, only ever pull the file in one direction, otherwise you’ll promote nail breakage later on. You want the middle to be rather flat-ish, maybe a little curvy but not a major arch. The corners need to be rounded, and it’s important that the sides don’t jut off at a straight down right angle because otherwise the whole top will just split right off as they grow. Try and round the edges down as much as you can; it’s a delicate manoeuvre and does take practice, but it’s worth it in the end. Spend five minutes on this task once a week, though if you happen to catch a nail and have a file handy, try to get rid of any interim jaggedy edges.  

•  Nail Front Care; it’s time for Recommended Investment Number Two; a nail buffer/shiner combo. These are not hard to come by. Seriously. Most of them have handy instruction booklets included with tiny writing explaining the thing in seven different languages, but you don’t need that. All you need to know is that the buffer side buffs the nail so that it’s smooth and healthy, and then the shiner side makes it shiny. Use both by pressing on top of the nail, no need for extreme pressure mind, and rubbing in circles. Don’t bother continuing for too long, in fact, excessive use will actually be bad for the nail. Repeat once weekly. 

Voila, pretty, naturally healthy nails! Consider your course in Nail Care complete.  

How To: Yoga

Step One: Don't be a donut, obviously.

So, you’ve been thinking lately about yoga? “Fraudulent fad or fabulous fitness?” you ask yourself when you walk past a ‘studio’ and see the rows of grunting, sweating and yet beautifully limber people stretching and sliding and slipping around on coloured mats. It looks simple, but you’ve been told it is a painfully difficult discipline, and you’re not sure where to even begin with finding the right class for you. Well, you’ve come to the right place, my little yogi, let me answer some of your questions. 

What is Yoga?

Yoga Australia gives this definition of yoga: 

“[Yoga] is recognised as an ancient system of belief (a practical philosophy or darsana) derived from the Vedic tradition of India and the Himalayas, more than 2500 years ago. It is a system of belief that recognises the multi-dimensional nature of the human person, and primarily relates to the nature and workings of the mind, based on experiential practice and self-enquiry.”

From a ‘lay person’s’ (meaning not a yoga practitioner) point of view, I would define yoga as a form of exercise that focuses on building your physical fitness by exercising your mental fitness. Confused? In a yoga* class, you move through a series of postures (poses/stretches) that strengthen and stretch your body. Yoga allows and expects the practiser to completely connect their mind with their body, the more you can focus on the pose you are holding and the more you can tune in to your body, the better you become. It teaches you to focus solely on one thing at a time and so trains both body and mind simultaneously. Think of it as a moving meditation. 

Are There Different Types of Yoga?

There are many different types of yoga, too many for me to detail, so I’ll take you through the types I’ve tried myself. 

Hatha Yoga

The term Hatha Yoga actually can be used to describe all yoga, but if you’re looking at taking a Hatha class it will likely be quite a basic form of yoga that takes you through slow, meditative poses. In my experience, Hatha Yoga is lovely and gentle. If you want to feel flexible and relaxed after a class, try Hatha. It’s usually a great type of yoga to try if you’re a beginner as it’s not too physically strenuous or demanding. Don’t think you won’t get a workout with Hatha though, you’ll still be holding poses, stretching and moving.

Bikram Yoga or Hot Yoga

You probably can’t get further away from the description I just gave about Hatha Yoga than Bikram. Bikram Yoga involves completing twenty-six poses, a mixture of standing and floor, and two breathing exercises in a highly structured ninety minute class…all in a 37 degree Celsius room (that’s about 98 in Fahrenheit). Bikram is intense and, so says the people who teach it, intensely good for you. If the instructor is doing their job properly, every Bikram class should be exactly the same, which has its pros and cons. If you’re thinking that the twenty-six poses (you can see them all here) seem deceptively easy looking, you’d be right. Nothing is easy in a room that super heated. That said, when warmed at that level, your muscles become amazingly flexible, and in a Bikram class you’ll find yourself doing things you never thought possible (and sweating more than you’d ever thought possible. We’re talking serious perspiration people!). 

I tried Bikram last year and loved it; I can honestly say I’ve never felt so good during exercise than when I was doing the floor series, especially when I was expecting to feel so bad. It is pretty hardcore stuff, but after growing up as a gymnast that’s the kind of exercise I’m used to. It’s purportedly great for everything from your cardiovascular health to your immune system to stopping junk food cravings, and after going I can see how it might be. If that’s not enough, can I just add that everybody, and I mean every body, looked simply amazing at my Bikram class? There are some ‘rules’ that it’s best to stick to, such as not eating in the two hours before class, so make sure you do your research before heading along. Bikram classes can be expensive, and sadly it isn’t exactly in my current price range, so I have given it up (for now) in lieu of cheaper options. I highly recommend giving Bikram a try if you’re looking for a challenge, but keep in mind it’s not for the faint of heart! 

Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa Yoga is the yoga type I currently practice. Like Hatha, Vinyasa Yoga classes can vary a lot depending on the instructor you have. Essentially, Vinyasa focuses heavily on connecting breathing to movement. It can be a bit more aerobically stimulating than a Hatha class, and you should really find yourself stretching, strengthening and sweating. Expect to have some sore muscles after this one, and if you’re looking for a visible (but not Bikram extreme) physical difference, then Vinyasa is the place to start. 

How Do I Go? What Do I Do?

First step to becoming a yoga-god? Do some googling. You need to start by finding out what types of yoga classes are offered in your area, where, for how much and when. Some classes have a ‘first time’ or introductory offer, so you can give it a go at a cheaper rate or without having to buy a whole month or term pass. You might find a class that suits you right away, or you may have to try a few, but the important thing is to give it a solid try.

If you have your own, it’s always a good idea to take your yoga mat with you, if you don’t you might be able to borrow or hire one when you do your class. Wear comfortable exercise clothing, I always find tighter is better than looser because you’re less likely to get entangled with all the twisting going on. As with any exercise, take a water bottle with you and make sure you’re eating correctly to have enough energy to make it through.

 

Will I Look Stupid?

No. You might feel stupid, you might fall or wobble or twist the wrong direction or let out an accidental yoga fart, but everyone in the class was a beginner once and they’ve all been there. Trust me, if they’re doing their practice correctly, no one should be noticing anyone other than themselves. If you go regularly, I find that improvement in yoga is amazingly rapid and pretty soon you’ll feel like a pro (pro-ish. There’ll always be that crazy yoga lady up the front who has been practicing for fifty years and looks like an upsized Praying Mantis to remind you that you’re not a pro yet). 

Every yoga class I’ve been to, even Bikram, has levels within each pose that allow for you to either stop and concentrate on perfecting a basic posture or continue on into a harder pose. You should never feel pressure to work past the level that you feel comfortable with or to do something that’s badly painful or just not right for your body. 

Why Yoga?

Exercise is, generally speaking, something a lot of us need to do more of. Yoga offers a very beneficial and mostly more gentle and relaxing way to do this. Because it’s also so meditative, it is a great treat for your mind as well as your body. Lastly, most yoga is conducted using Sanskrit, which is a beautiful language, and words like asasana and chaturanga dandasana will become part of your vocabulary, for which there are no negatives! 

Yoga might not be right for everyone, but it seems to work for a huge variety of people. If you’re interested then I suggest you get up off the computer and try it out.

Namaste!**

*To be clear, we’re really talking about a Westernized version of yoga here. The term yoga originally was used to describe a religious practice much more heavily centred on meditation and not so much on physical exercise as it is today. There’s widely acknowledge to have been a marriage between more modern and Western exercise and the traditional yoga practiced by Buddhists in what it is we practice now, but hey, why not combine all the good bits of everything, right? 

**Too corny? Probably. Will I change it? Nope.

How To: Meditate

 One of my teachers once told me that Buddhist monks began the practice of joining fore finger to thumb when meditating as a 'self timing' device. When their fingers parted, they knew they had done enough.

Picture found originally here.

I was lucky enough to go to a school that, while Catholic, was quite expansive and progressive in its religion teaching. Not being one myself, I wasn’t supremely interested in the religious studies we did which pertained purely to becoming a better Catholic, but I was really engaged by the other material we studied; profiles of all of the major religions and a few smaller ones, in depth studies of texts and practices and day trips to synagogues, mosques, museums and cemeteries.

During my time at school I had two wonderful teachers who taught us a lot about meditation practice. My interest in meditation really began with them and through my own research and further study has increased. Below are outlined some of my favourite ‘do it yourself’ meditation exercises.

Food Meditation or Eating Mindfully

We always did this meditation at school with Allens Snakes. To this day yellow snakes (only Allens though), are one of my very favourite things to eat. You’ll need food, preferably just one ingredient by itself, say a carrot or piece of cheese (or an Allens Snake!). This meditation uses questioning to keep you focussed and experiencing the present moment.

Method:

*Sit comfortably, close your eyes and focus on breathing deeply and settling your mind some.

*Take the piece of food and lift it to your nose. What does it smell like?

*Put the food in your mouth, but do not chew, just let it rest on your tongue. Does it feel heavy? Is it releasing any flavour?

*Slowly move the food around a little, you can squish it or suck on it if you want. Focus now on the flavour coming from the morsel, what can you taste? Is it sweet or savoury? Salty or creamy?

*Now you can chew the food, but still focus on the textures and flavours you’re experiencing. When you’re done, swallow it. What kind of aftertaste is left?

Listening Meditation

This one’s really simple. I usually find it best to lie down in a still room with the windows open. This is all about listening, so try and make sure there are no really loud televisions or music players near you.

*As you lie, slowly narrow down you’re ‘field’ of listening until you’re focussing only on the sounds your body makes; breathing, beating, pulsing, maybe twitching or lengthening as you ease into relaxation.

*Then, stretch your listening outwards, until you’re focusing on sounds from around the room. Does the furniture shift and settle? Is there a ticking clock or are there any animals making noises?

*Gradually, shift your listening outside the room. Can you hear neighbours talking? Birds in the trees and traffic passing by?

*Now focus on the sounds farthest away from you, see just how far you can hear. *Next you need to draw your listening back in, first into the surrounding outside, then back to your room, then to your own sounds, until all you can hear once again are the noises of your body.

Plain Old Meditation

This year I began practicing what I call ‘plain old mediation’ in earnest. All I literally do is sit on a flat floor cushion, legs crossed (although I don’t see that it would make a difference in a different position if you were sitting up straight and well supported) and breathe. I make sure that my breaths are long and slow, and that the exhalation is the same length as the inhalation (we have a tendency to breathe shorter out than in). Then I slowly start to let go of my thoughts, trying to slow my mind down a little and relax into the stillness until there are no thoughts and all I’m doing is sitting and breathing. I wouldn’t say it’s hard, but it’s not instantly achievable; thoughts whir back up the moment I let myself lose focus or get distracted. It’s definitely not something to get angsty about, and I think that’s where a lot of people get tricked up with mediation; the angrier you get about not being able to ‘do it right’ the more you’ll over think things, when thinking is something you’re trying to get a break from.

I don’t like to put a timer on my mediation, I can usually just tell when I’ve had enough and I think a buzzer or alarm would jar me about. I do like to see sometimes how long I’ve mediated for though, and so far my average is about ten minutes, which I’m pretty impressed by. I find that on the mornings that I do meditate I seem to have hours extra in the day and am incredibly productive. I’m able to focus clearly and don’t try to multitask and spread my energy around all day long. It’s definitely proven a great habit for work outcomes, and I think mentally as well.

I’ve done other types of meditation (think a two hour walking and bowing stint at a Buddhist monk-in-training temple) and have really enjoyed all of them. These three are my basis, DIY at home options, and a good place to start if you’ve never meditated before. Additionally, there are literally hundreds of guided meditation recordings on youtube, and if you’re finding it hard to lead yourself through I recommend you give one a go as well. Happy meditating!